[ 2017-10-12 ]

Don’t stampede gov’t into closing fuel stations – OMCs
The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC),
has appealed to the government to undertake a
thorough examination of the Atomic Junction Gas
explosion before it comes out with a national
policy on fire outbreaks at the pumps.

The Atomic Junction gas explosion, which occurred
on Saturday, claimed the lives of seven people,
injuring over a hundred others

Following the explosion, scores of students of the
University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA),
on Monday staged a demonstration on campus against
the siting of a fuel station close to the
school.

Similar protests have taken place in other areas
in Accra. The government has indicated that it
will come out with some decisions at cabinet, to
deal address the situation, and prevent such fires
in thee future.

Speaking at a press conference today [Thursday],
the CEO of the AOMC, Kwaku Agyemang-Duah, urged
the government not to succumb to panic reactions
from a section of the public, but come out with a
holistic policy.

“The unparalleled marauding, demonstrations
against some legitimate retail outlets and hitting
the panic button “exemplified” by the wanton
closure of retail outlets in a rambo style by some
unrepentant MMDCEs in an industry regulatory by
specific bodies, is unwarranted and must be
condemned with all the attempt it deserves,” he
said.

“This has innate results of culminating in chaos
and anarchy in the society and inflaming passion
among the citizenry thereby creating disaffection
for OMCs/LPGMs,” he warned.

Mr. Agyemang-Duah stated that, OMCs/LPGMs are
neither ‘monsters’ nor ‘criminals’, but
are Ghanaians making a living by legally investing
in the petroleum industry.

“Some marketers have their administrative
offices within the confines of such outlets.
Therefore, our intent to have a safe operation of
our outlets cannot be in doubt,” he maintained.

Mr. Agyemanag-Duah suggested that, the situation
rather calls for a sober deep-seated thought,
through unbiased and unfettered investigations to
unearth the root causes, and furnish the nation
with sustained corrective and preventive actions,
which will inform the public in a positive manner,
whilst consolidating or improving the existing
industry standards for public safety.

Source - citibsinessnews.com

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