Fuel shortage not affecting patrols – Police

“The police has a little challenge. We have a little reduction in our stock so what we do when we encounter similar challenges is that we cut down or suspend supply to office vehicles and preserve what we have left for operational vehicles so that our core mandate of policing, patrolling and protecting lives and property is retained,” he explained.“I will say that we have some challenges but the challenges are not such that it could affect our core mandate of maintaining law and order.”

Supt. Arthur said he had spoken with the officer in charge of services and was assured that the Police were expecting a supply of fuel “very soon”.

The reports on the supposed shortage came from sources within the police service who said divisional commanders and district commander were using their own money to fuel police patrol vehicles.

Sources also said the fuel depot at the main pump station opposite the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) office at 37 had been shut down.

Indications from some police sources were that the Ghana Police Service owed GOIL a substantial amount of money and this may have directly affected the fuel situation.

When probed on the reasons for the reduction in fuel stock, on who supplied fuel and on if the service was indebted to GOIL, Supt. Arthur said he could not comment adequately.

But on the supposed shutdown of the fuel depot, he said “if any driver who drives an office vehicle goes there, he will be told that there is no fuel. But if an operational vehicle goes there, it will be supplied.”

Supt. Arthur noted further, he himself said he was not getting fuel from the 37 fuel depot.