Chief Justice Paul Baffoe‑Bonnie has formally designated the Achimota Court to adjudicate cases involving the diversion of petroleum products, a decision announced during a session of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
National Petroleum Authority CEO Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe explained that the NPA had approached the judiciary to create a specialised venue for handling offences committed by petroleum service providers, thereby strengthening the prosecution of offenders.
Mr Tamakloe cited the National Petroleum Authority Act, L.I. 2251, which sets penalties for diversion, including fines of 2,500 to 5,000 penalty units, prison terms of two to five years, or a combination of both.
The establishment of a dedicated court is intended to provide a focused forum for these cases and to support the enforcement of the Act’s regulations.
