MINISTER CONDEMNS FUEL SMUGGLING (PAGE 26)

The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode has condemned the re-emergence of smuggling of petroleum products from the region to the Republic of Togo due to price differentials of the product between the two countries.
He said the state of the economy of the nation would worsen if unpatriotic citizens engaged in subversive acts, and therefore, urged the people to check this canker.
  Mr Amenowode said this when he met a section of media practitioners in the region to introduce himself to them as the new political head of the region.
 He said the Dzodze and Segbe areas had been identified by security forces as the places where the product was smuggled to neighbouring Togo.
The regional minister therefore, implored the police, officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) to investigate the issue and deal with the culprits.
  According to him, some drivers had created false tanks known as “bola” in their vehicles where they fill petrol and diesel for smuggling, adding that others also bought fuel in plastic containers and smuggle it.
 The regional minister stressed the need for the media to be vibrant and focus their attention on the development needs of the region.
He said no serious government would want to antagonise the media, neither would it desire to be in bed with the media, adding that what was needed was a professional relationship underpinned with good partnership tailored to the code of ethics of the journalism profession.
Mr Amenowode assured media practitioners that his office would be open up for crosschecking of facts to avoid speculations in their reportage.
He said his mandate was to co-ordinate activities of the region to facilitate development.
Mr Amenowode cautioned them against publishing negative stories that had the potential of scaring away investors.
Touching on the state of affairs in the region, he said it was good, adding that security was calm, education was on track, sanitation not bad, adding “We are not in a very bad state”.
He said the Volta Region was in a unique position for accelerated development, explaining that both the Municipal/District Chief Executives (MDCEs) and almost all the Members of Parliament (MPs) were in the same political leaning, which made understanding of issues on development smooth.
On security, the regional minister said all flash points in the region had been identified for proper management.
Earlier, the Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr Steve Selormey said the regional minister had met with senior and general staff of the Volta Region Co-ordinating Council (VRCC) and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC).