Group accuse BOST MD of 'abuse of power'; wants CHRAJ to probe him

A civil society group has accused the Managing Director of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST), Alfred Obeng Boateng, of abuse of power in the controversial sale of five million litres of contaminated fuel. According to the Coalition for Social Justice, Mr. Obeng Boateng abused his power as a public officer in the sale, hence petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice CHRAJ to investigate him. The product was contaminated when petrol and diesel accidentally mixed when a petrol flow-line was misdirected into a diesel tank during a discharge of petrol cargo into the Accra plains depot. The product has since been released for sale to consumers, although experts say it is “unfit to run in any automobile engine.” BOST and its MD were criticised for the sale of the contaminated fuel to Movenpiina, a company which was said to be be unlicenced at the time that the deal was brokered. Reports emerged the BOST MD had interest in Movenpiina, raising concerns of possible corruption and calls for investigations into the events surrounding the sale of the fuel. But in a latest development, the Coalition for Social Justice in its petition dated October 17 and signed by Sammy Gyamfi and Abass Nurudeen, claimed the BOST MD “acted unlawfully in the sale of five million litres of contaminated fuel to Movenpinaa Energy”. The group contends Mr Obeng Boateng violated the National Petroleum Authority Act (ACT 691) 2005, the Public Procurement Act (ACT 663) 2003 and the Code of Conduct for Public Officers enshrined in Article 218(a) of the 1992 constitution. “…We are of the firm opinion that the Managing Director of BOST, Mr. Alfred Obeng, has abused his powers as a Public Officer, for which he must be sanctioned in accordance with law,” the group stated in the petition to CHRAJ. Mr. Obeng Boateng, according to the group, acted unlawfully and arbitrary in the sale of the off-spec petroleum product, hence wants CHRAJ to recommend his removal if found guilty after the investigations. Click here to read the full petition to CHRAJ By 3news.com|Ghana]]>