Petroleum tanker drivers in Kumasi have expressed dismay at the continuous fuel siphoning at the Kumasi depot of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) Company.

In October last year, police busted security supervisor with Jidem Security Services, Stephen Nana Nketia and four members of an alleged oil- siphoning gang.

They were arrested during an operation to steal 24 drums of petroleum products at the depot, after switching off the CCTV system to break into a secured valve.

The latest incident occurred Monday dawn when thieves broke into the depot.

The tanker drivers, who lift fuel from the depot, are not enthused at the posture of BOST authorities to tackle the security lapses at the facility.

A leader of the tanker drivers union, Kwabena Ebo, says there have been several discussions with management of the BOST to review its contract with the private security firm.

“We don’t need the Jidem Security again because their continuous engagement will not abate the spate of theft which has been going on for a long time,” he stated.

Luv News sources say depot managers are often blamed for shortages in collation and tallying of sales figures.

According to Ebo, the losses incurred at the depot will not be curtailed with the present security operatives at post.

The BOST facility in Kumasi holds a maximum capacity of 84 million barrels of petrol and diesel to serve the Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and parts of the Western Regions.

Depot Manager, Nicholas Yaw Samari, has suggested an oversight support by national security apparatus to augment the operations of private security firm “in order to protect the national asset”.

The management of BOST will not react to the drivers’ calls for a review of its contract with Jidem Security, because of an ongoing court hearing of the theft involving Stephen Nketia.

“We are currently upgrading our systems at the depot to make sure that we withstand or defeat some of these unnecessary going on regarding security,” stated Nat Acheampong, Corporate Communications Manager at BOST.