Group Condemns Attacks on BOST Boss

The Sefwiman Nkosuo Kuo, a community welfare and development group in Bibiani/Anhwiaso/Bekwai District of the Western Region, has condemned the incessant media attacks on the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST), Alfred Obeng Boateng.

According to the group, the new BOST CEO, since assuming office, has been fighting corruption in the distribution of refined petroleum products in the country and that might have angered some players in the industry and employees of BOST.

A news release issued and signed by J.K. Okyere, who describes himself as the President of the Sefwiman Nkosuo Kuo, said Mr. Obeng Boateng's resolve to make BOST effective can never be doubted, owing to the fact that he has been very successful in all his private businesses.

The statement said, “There are people in the business who think they can continue to rip-off the state. Some have formed more than three companies and are using them to cheat the system and once they know the CEO is getting aware of the situation they start smearing him using the opposition media.”

“Our checks show that the CEO is determined to operate an open-door policy by allowing every Ghanaian capable of doing business with BOST to come in, and those with parochial interests who have milked the system feel threatened and would do anything to paint Mr. Obeng Boateng black.”

The statement claimed the previous rot at BOST was unimaginable but added that Mr. Obeng Boateng and his management team were working around the clock to ensure sanity in the system.

The BOST MD is preoccupied with solving the issues of dumping of petroleum meant for export onto the domestic market, which has become a major challenge, it stated.

BOST was incorporated in December 1993 as a private limited liability company with the Government of Ghana as the sole shareholder.

Until May 2001, BOST was responsible for the distribution of refined petroleum products from its strategic depots located throughout the country.

Additionally, BOST also holds the Natural Gas Transmission Utility License granted to it by the Ghana Energy Commission (EC) on December 19th, 2012.

The NGTU, as per EC Act 541, 1997, will provide transmission and interconnection services for natural gas without discrimination throughout the country.

By William Yaw Owusu