The National Premix Fuel Secretariat says it is on course with the automation of the distribution of premix fuel at all landing beaches along the coast.
According to the secretariat, the move will ensure that the distribution of the commodity is properly done.
Government has increased the price of premix fuel per gallon from GH¢10 to GH¢25 after a price hike of the oil on the international market.
Speaking to Citi News, administrator of the National Premix Fuel Secretariat, Nana Abrokwa Asare said the automation will get rid of middlemen in the distribution process.
“Across the length and breadth of the country, I can assure you that, we are vigorously pursuing the agenda of automating all the premix outlets in the country. All the fishermen will have a unique card that they will use in the purchase of premix fuel so the issues of illegalities or middlemen will also be a thing of the past so that the actual fishermen get the premix fuel.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia announced that government had begun processes to digitize the distribution of both premix fuel and fertilizer to address the confusion that characterizes the distribution process.
Both fishermen and farmers have complained of being cheated during the distribution of the two products.
Sector minister Mavis Hawa Koomson said fishermen will henceforth be required to present their canoe identification cards to access the commodity.
Digitization of premix fuel distribution won’t tackle corruption – Nii Lante Vanderpuye
But, Member of Parliament for the Odododiodoo constituency, Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has said the digitization of premix fuel distribution will not address issues of corruption associated with it.
He argued that individuals who input digital figures in the process of distribution could still perpetrate corruption.
“If you do digitization, it is still the human beings who are going to input figures and if the person is corrupt, the person is corrupt. The person will input 1,000 gallons when the person has distributed only 200 gallons. What is the backup to check all these things? Corruption in premix fuel? That one too, we need digitization? “