Witness in Ghana Admits Selling Water-Mixed Fuel
In Ghana's ongoing Atimpoku fuel contamination case, a defense witness has admitted that petrol dispensed to a customer was mixed with water. The testimony is a key development in the investigation into alleged fuel contamination at a local petrol station.
The case revolves around an incident on August 28, 2022, when businessman Edmund Barwuah purchased fuel for his 2017 Ford Explorer at the Atimpoku Shell station. His vehicle allegedly began to shake violently and the engine stopped just one kilometer from the station. Following the incident and a viral social media video, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) shut down the station. Investigations by the NPA and Vivo Energy, the operator of the Shell station, concluded that water had entered an underground storage tank after a heavy downpour. The station resumed operations in January 2023 after months of closure and remedial actions. The witness who admitted to selling the water-mixed fuel, John Delase-Michael, is a retailer at the station and was the first defense witness for Vivo Energy. He initially denied the contamination claim but later admitted it under cross-examination, stating he was under "immense pressure" from customers. The plaintiff, Edmund Barwuah, is seeking significant damages, including GH¢2.5 million for a lost business opportunity he claims to have missed due to his car breaking down. He is also asking for the replacement of his vehicle and a daily compensation of GH¢600 for the loss of its use. This is not the first major fuel contamination issue in Ghana. In 2017, the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) was involved in a scandal for selling 5 million litres of contaminated fuel to unlicensed companies, causing a significant financial loss to the state. The National Petroleum Authority urges consumers to report suspected fuel adulteration within 48 hours to facilitate investigation and prevent the loss of evidence. In cases where contamination is proven to have caused damage, the NPA's policy is to have the station compensate the affected customers and fix their vehicles.
