The LPG Marketers Association of Ghana and the Ghana LPG Operators Association (GLIPOA) have accused the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) Communications Manager, Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, of engaging in “unfortunate and deliberate” attempts to tarnish the reputation of LPG refill stations across the country.
In a statement issued by the Associations, they expressed deep concern over Abdul-Kudus’s recent remarks on Accra-based Adom FM, where he claimed that the government’s Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) was designed to eliminate cheating at LPG refill stations.
The Associations argue that these comments are misleading and serve to unjustly pit consumers against operators within the LPG sub-sector.
The LPG Marketers Association and GLIPOA emphasized that the CRM policy, introduced by the government to improve access to LPG by 50% by 2030, has nothing to do with allegations of cheating.
“If today he is stating the main objective is to eliminate cheating then the government and NPA have lied to all stakeholders,” they stated.
The associations pointed out that the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), which is responsible for standardization and calibration, conducts regular inspections of the over 768 LPG refill stations nationwide.
They assert that there has been no report from the GSA indicating malpractice or cheating by these stations and challenge Abdul-Kudus to provide any evidence to support his claims.
The associations defended the integrity of the LPG sector, noting that each LPG station is equipped with calibrated and certified dispensers and weighing scales, inspected regularly by the GSA.
“Any customer who visits an LPG Retail Station can see for themselves the quantity of product dispensed into their cylinders. Also, for purposes of verifying the quantity dispensed, the cylinder can be weighed right in the presence of the customer,” the statement clarified.
In light of these facts, the LPG Marketers Association and GLIPOA are demanding a retraction of the statement made by Abdul-Kudus and a formal apology to both the Ghana Standard Authority and the owners of LPG refill stations.
While reiterating their support for the government’s CRM policy, the associations called for a level playing field for all stakeholders involved.
They urged the media to address what they described as misinformation spread by the NPA, stressing their commitment to protecting the reputation and interests of their members.
Read the attached statement below:
 PRESS RELEASE BY THE LPG MARKETERS’ ASSOCIATION AND GHANA LPG OPERATORS ASSOCIATION (GLIPOA)
RE: ‘CRM to eliminate cheating at the filling stations’ – Mohammed Abdul-Kudus of the NPA
On Tuesday 20th August 2024, Mr Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, the Communications Manager of NPA, during an appearance on Accra-based Adom FM made the above statement in regard to the Government’s Cylinder Recirculation Model Policy.
The LPG Marketers Association and other stakeholders over the last couple of weeks have observed the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the regulator for the downstream Petroleum sector officials making various allegations against the very sub-sector that has helped to increase consumption of LPG from 5,000Kg per annum in the 1990s to over 300,000,000kg as at end of 2023. These statements are unfortunate and deliberate to kick the consumers against the operators of LPG Refill stations.
In the first place Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Kudus as the Communication Manager knows that the Government’s Policy on CRM has nothing to do with cheating at the LPG Refill Stations. The CRM policy was introduced as part of the government’s plans to improve access to LPG by 50% by 2030. If today he is stating the main objective is to eliminate cheating then the government and NPA has lied to all stakeholders. His statement is unfortunate and upfront to Government Agency such as the Ghana Standard Authority (GSA).
The Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) is clothed with Standardisation and Calibration powers per the Act 1078. The GSA, on quarterly basis subject the over 768 LPG Refill Stations in Ghana to periodic inspection. The Association is not aware of any report from the GSA indicating that operators of LPG Refill stations are cheating the discerning customers. Mr Mohammed Abdul-Kudus must tell the whole world where he cited such a report.
Per the current operations of LPG stations which are open to the general public it is mind boggling for Mr Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, the Communications Manager of NPA to make such a statement on a radio station. Each LPG Retail station has Dispensers and Weighing Scales that are calibrated and certified by GSA and inspected regularly. Any customer who visits an LPG Retail Station can see for themselves the quantity of product dispensed into their cylinders. Also, for purposes of verifying the quantity dispensed the cylinder can be weighed right in the presence of the customer. If in the presence of a customer, the LPG Refill stations are cheating then what confidence should the customer have when a filled cylinder is sold to them from elsewhere?
The operators in the LPG Sub-Sector are law abiding persons with high level of integrity. The players have always placed the needs of the customer at the heart of every decision making. The LPG Sector has remained one of the least profitable sub-sector in the country.  Margins for operators for products lifted from BIDEC has remained the same for over 7years because we do not want the customer to suffer due to high prices of LPG.  Meanwhile within the same period, Government’s Levies, Taxes and NPA Margins have all be increased in many folds.
Lastly, the members of the LPG Marketers and the Dealers are not against the Government Policy on CRM. Rather, we demand a level playing ground for all stakeholders.
We therefore demand that Mr Mohammed Abdul-Kudus, the Communications Manager of the NPA, to retract the said statement and apologise to the Ghana Standard Authority and the owners of LPG Refill Stations.
By the:
LPG Marketing Companies Association of Ghana (LPGMC)
Ghana LPG Operators Association (GLIPGOA)
To: All Media Organisations
Source: Adomonline
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