A delegation from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is in the country to understudy the design and operational framework of National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA’s) fuel marking programme.
MAMO, DRC has been subcontracted by Authentix to deploy the fuel marking proramme in the South and East of the DRC.
The Chief Executive Officer of MAMO, Mr. Paul Kasseyet, and the MD of MAMO, Mr. Gerard Mulimbi, have therefore visited Ghana to gain a better insight into the Petroleum Product Marking Scheme (PPMS), which the Authority has implemented to effectively monitor the quality of petroleum products along the supply and distribution chain.
Welcoming the delegation at the NPA on Wednesday, Chief Executive of the NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, said relations between Ghana and the DRC stretch back to the days of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Patrice Lumumba… and that Dr. Nkrumah intervened in the peacekeeping mission in DRC.
The NPA boss said he is excited whenever sister African countries visit to learn from one another in helping the African cause, stressing that “no one will help us if we do not help ourselves”.
He said stories on DRC from the narrative of Western media are not so good, but the country has positive sides which need to be projected.
Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid said the NPAiready to share its experiences with DRC in regulation of the petroleum downstream industry. For instance, the Petroleum Product Marking Scheme (PPMS) was important in curbing fuel-smuggling, ensuring payment of the right taxes and availability of quality petroleum products on the market.
“The fuel marking programme has multiple advantages. If you come on board, it is worth it,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer-MAMO and leader of the delegation, Mr. Paul Kasseyet, in his remarks lauded Ghana for its steady development over the years – describing the country as one of the few success stories on the continent.
Mr. Kasseyet said Ghanaians seem to downplay the progress that the country has chalked up because they are in it.
“I always mention Ghana as an example of development on the continent. But because you are in the country, you take it as business as usual; but it has been impressive.
“I know what the African standard is. You (Ghana) are above the standard,” he said.
Mr. Kasseyet said his team believe that the NPA’s PPMS is of the accepted international standard, hence the interest to come and learn how it operates and implement it in DRC.
Mr. Kasseyet requested the NPA boss and his team to pay a visit to DRC and give insights into regulation of the petroleum downstream industry.
