Consumers of petroleum products are instructed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to always report negative incidents at gas stations to the authority within 48 hours so that appropriate action may be taken.
That, it said, would allow the authority to carry out exhaustive investigations and hold accountable anyone found to be at fault.
Eunice Budu Nyarko, the NPA's head of consumer services, advised that concerns about alleged fraud and adulteration at gas stations be brought to their notice as soon as possible to allow for prompt investigations.
Additionally, she recommended the people to purchase fuel from operating stations because the NPA regularly inspected them and could guarantee the quality of their output.
Sensitisation
Last Monday, Mrs. Nyarko made the announcement while leading a group of NPA officials in Tamale to educate the general public and commercial drivers about how to use petroleum products safely and about their rights and duties.
It was a part of a nationwide campaign of mass sensitization that the authorities initiated.
The team also discussed risks associated with handling and using petroleum products, best practises for operators of gasoline stations in the downstream petroleum business, as well as the authority's actions, including its mission, aims, and duties, to the general public.
Concerns
Concerns over the quality of fuel delivered at some fuel stations have prompted the sensitization push. Some consumers claim that oil marketing businesses dilute the goods to boost profit margins, while others claim that the metering equipment at the pumps is tampered with.
In fact, due to unlawful acts, certain oil marketing organisations' licences have lately been suspended by national authorities.
Mrs. Nyarko acknowledged that adulteration and cheating had been significant NPA issues, but noted that severe steps had been implemented to reduce or eradicate such occurrences.
She highlighted continuous product monitoring at the different pumps and enhanced sensitization as two standout methods.
Godwin Yaw Konu, the NPA's Northern Regional Manager, advised customers to alert his organisation to any petroleum-related problems in the area so that they may take prompt action.