Achimota court designated to handle petroleum diversion cases – NPA

Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has designated the Achimota Court to handle cases involving the diversion of petroleum products, as part of efforts to strengthen the prosecution of offenders.

Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, disclosed this when he appeared before Parliament's Public Accounts Committee.

He said the NPA had engaged the Chief Justice to establish a specialised court to deal with offences involving petroleum service providers and facilitate the prosecution of those found culpable.

Mr Tamakloe cited the National Petroleum Authority Act's relevant regulations, L.I. 2251, which prescribe penalties for the diversion of petroleum products.

Under the regulations, a person convicted of diverting petroleum products faces a fine of between 2,500 and 5,000 penalty units, a prison term of between two and five years, or both.

Mr Tamakloe said the designation of the Achimota Court would provide a designated venue for handling such cases and support the enforcement of the regulations.