By Kebba Ansu Manneh
The Government of The Gambia has finally broke its silence on the major fuel scandal that rocked the country since end of October resulting to decline in business and economic activities as well as making lives and livelihoods difficult to everyone.
At a press conference hosted by the government of The Gambia, Seedy Keita, Minister of Trade revealed that an investigation has been launched into the shortage of Gasoil that hits the country beginning last month. He revealed that the General Manager of Gam Petroleum, Saihou Drammeh and Operations Manager, Lamin Gassama are helping the police in their investigation.
According to him, the shortage of Gasoil has come as a big surprise contrary to reporting emanating from Gam Petroleum that there is enough Gasoil in the country that can serve more than a week. He noted that after an assessment conducted by a taskforce comprising multi stakeholders it was discovered that more than half of the fuel stock has disappeared.
Minister Keita disclosed further that the situation prompted a stock verification, visit to Gam Petroleum Depot comprising of the State security, PURA, Ministry of Trade, major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and management of Gam Petroleum.
The delegation, he said, therefore uncovered that tanks D1-D4 were all empty, whilst tank D5 contained 50,000 litres of mixed diesel and water.
Minister Keita informed that the government has instituted a taskforce comprising of officials drawn from security, PURA, Ministry of Trade, major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and management of Gam Petroleum, and the taskforce has already stated its works that involve lifting of fuel from Senegal as a short term measure to address the shortage.
He also disclosed that investigators have already engaged the various stakeholders involved to determine the cause of the shortage, alleging that Gam Petroleum Management has not provided any credible documentary evidence to explain the shortage.
Dilating on the concerns of International Traders on the disappearance of their stocks at Gam Petroleum Depot, Trade Minister revealed that scores of the International Traders have also met with the investigators, adducing that the loss of stock belonging to these International Traders has big economic implications for the country if they are not settle.
“Gam Petroleum and the taskforce has assured them that they will be paid their stock and the conditions to fulfil these are been discussed,” Trade Minister disclosed.
He disclosed government’s readiness to provide all the needed guarantees for Gam Petroleum demanded by International Traders so that confidence can be restored for oil suppliers by these traders to resume. While he revealed that the General Manager of Gam Petroleum and the Operations Manager are helping the police in their investigations and the public will be duly informed of the outcome of the investigation.