Panic Buying Of Fuel Hits Accra (Video)

Motorists in parts of Accra are resorting to panic-buying of fuel in the wake of recent warnings that there could be shortage of petroleum products in Ghana. The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies (BDC) had warned of a looming fuel crisis as a result of their inability to raise letters of credit to honour supplies. This, they said followed government�s inability to pay an amount of GhȻ1.8 billion owed them and which has been accruing since 2011. Mr Senyo Hosi, Chief Executive of the Chamber had explained last week that because of the mounting debts from subsidies, which government doesn�t budget for and was also finding challenges to pay, the finance houses had withdrawn their support for them to supply the market. When Graphic Online went round Wednesday morning, it was observed that there were long queues at some stations that were dispensing fuel. Some other filling stations were empty because the operators had put up 'No Fuel' notices at entry points. At the Adabraka Total Station near the Roxy Cinema bus stop, some frustrated drivers were seen engaged in exchanges as a result of attempts by others to jump the queue. Some drivers who had no fuel at all in their vehicles, were seen pushing them towards the pump area whenever there was a gap in front of them. While some motorists attributed the shortages to panic-buying as a result of the warning by the BDCs, others felt stocks were indeed running out and called on government to intervene. Other stations visited such as the Total Filling Station opposite the Electoral Commission head office also had a long queue. Other stations such as the Goil Filling Station at Agbogba junction had �no fuel� inscriptions placed at the entrance and attendants turned away motorists. In the video below is the situation at the Adabraka Total Filling Station near Roxy bus stop on Wednesday morning