BNI exoneration of BOST MD ‘gargantuan cover-up’ – Minority

The Minority in Parliament has accused the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) of trying to cover-up the circumstances surrounding the sale of the five million litres of contaminated fuel by the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) company to a private company.

It said the call by the BNI on the Minister of Energy to dissolve the committee investigating the sale of contaminated fuel amounted to a cover-up.

The Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, told journalists in Accra yesterday that the twist was an attempt by the government to shield the BOST Managing Director, Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng, because of his political connection.

He asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to allow the ministerial committee to proceed with full investigations into the matter.

"We, therefore, think if Mr President means well in fighting corruption, he should not be seen supporting any cover-up and allow the ministerial committee to proceed henceforth with full investigation of the matter and report publicly," he said.

A total of five million litres of fuel is said to be contaminated at BOST, and the contaminated product was reportedly sold to an unregistered company.

Consequently, the Minister of Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko, set up a committee to investigate the whole issue.

Bizarre development

Mr Iddrisu described the action of the BNI as a bizarre and uncharacteristic development in the country.

"The BNI is acting in a manner that we do not only smell, but we can sense a cover-up in respect of the matter of the selling of contaminated oil by BOST which matter borders on fraud, corruption and abuse of office.

"We are aware that the Minister of Energy has set up a committee to investigate the matter. We are now being told that the BNI is asking for a dissolution of that committee. That can only be a gargantuan cover-up. We believe that this action of the BNI can only be sowing the seeds of corruption in our country and also preventing sunshine on a matter of public interest," he said.

The Minority Leader said the mere selling of contaminated oil mattered to motorists, and that the mere admission by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) that it had not licensed a particular entity also raised major issues as to whether the government dealt with a registered or an unregistered company.

Publicise findings

Mr Iddrisu asked the BNI to come out publicly to share with the people what it had investigated and what its findings were, "but not just a mere statement to the effect that the minister should dissolve his committee".

He alleged that the Minority was already aware of an internal turf war between the Minister of Energy and other players within the government.

Reports exonerated

The BNI is said to have cleared the BOST MD of any wrongdoing in the sale of the contaminated fuel. The investigations indicated that Mr Obeng Boateng was not in office when the incident occurred.

Mr Iddrisu said the NPA had issued an official communication indicating that the fuel was contaminated and that Movenpiina Company Limited was not a registered company when it procured the contaminated fuel.

"Where does the BNI put the position of the NPA on the matter?" he asked, and stated that the Minority in Parliament wanted the investigation to respond to the primary issues, such as the sale of contaminated oil to an unregistered and unlicensed company.

"We are in interesting times in fighting corruption, avarice and abuse of office that a certain particular individual cannot be probed or investigated because of his political connection," he said.