Corruption: CID petitioned to probe Fisheries Minister

Fisheries Alliance, a civil society group with interest in the fisheries sector, also wants the brother of the Minister, who she appointed as the administrator of the National Premix Committee, to be investigated.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has been petitioned to probe the Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, for her role in the allege premix fuel division scandal.

Fisheries Alliance, a civil society group with interest in the fisheries sector, also wants the brother of the Minister, who she appointed as the administrator of the National Premix Committee, to be investigated.

READ MORE: Minister defends brother's appointment on premix committee

The group in a letter to the CID said the petition has become necessary the "very interesting" responses from the Chairman of the Premix Committee and the sector Minister over the division of some 249 tankers of premix fuel.

The group cited President Akufo-Addo's campaign and pledge to investigate all acts of corruption against his appointees.

The group is demanding full enquiry into the following;

1. The role of the Hon. Minister, Mrs. Elizabeth Afoley Quaye in the entire controversy,

2. The role of the Chairman of the Premix Committee, Nii Lantey Bannerman in the suspected diversions,

3. The admission by the Hon. Minister on public radio that she has engaged her blood brother as the administrator of the premix secretariat and if the said engagement was done in accordance with law and whether or not conflict of interest situation did not arise

4. Why the Hon. Minister and the Chairman Premix Committee refused to respond to the letters written to them on the suspected diversions from February to November 17 by the National Petroleum Authority, Why they also refused to take steps to stop the diversions which rather increased over the period.

5. Why the Hon. Minister refused to respond to the letter written to her by the Hon. Minister for Energy and Petroleum on May 16, 2017 reminding her of all the earlier letters written to her by the NPA.

6. Why the Hon. Minister of Fisheries refused to respond to the letter written to her by the Canoe Fishermen Council, who are the end users of the Premix Fuel about their suspicion of diversion and why she refused to act on same.

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There have been issues with the supply of premix fuel throughout the year, a situation scores of fishermen say is affecting their livelihood.

Reports from Accra-based Citi FM indicated that some Oil Marketing Companies (OMC’s) diverted 249 consignments of premix fuel meant for fisher-folk across the country, to be sold to industries, mostly within the Tema metropolis.

Fisheries Alliance, a civil society group with interest in the fisheries sector, also wants the brother of the Minister, who she appointed as the administrator of the National Premix Committee, to be investigated. Read Full Story