Massing up at gas stations could spread coronavirus – Trinity Oil CEO
Vice-Chairman of the LPG Marketers Association of Ghana, Gabriel Kumi, has discouraged overcrowding at gas filling stations, raising fears of coronavirus spreading.
His advice follows panic buying and a mad rush for LPG by consumers as President Nana Akufo-Addo announced a lockdown on Friday, March 27.
The spread of the virulent disease compelled the government to impose restrictions on movement except for specific categories of workers and persons providing essential services.
The announcement, however, created an undesirable outcome on Saturday as thousands of consumers besieged filling stations to make last-minute purchases.
However, Mr Kumi, who is CEO of Trinity Oil Company Limited, has assured the public that the provision of gas services will not be interrupted.
He further advised the public to free up spaces at the filling stations and observe social distancing to prevent any spread of the coronavirus, also known as COVID-19.
“Those who have massed up at the station should go back if you don’t urgently need LPG,” he cautioned. “NPA has assured that there is enough stock for LPG and there is absolutely no need for panic buying.”
He bemoaned the cramming of over 1000 consumers at the Trinity Gas Station in Alajo, Accra.
He was concerned that “if just one person goes there with an infection, you can be sure that these 1000 people will go back with an infection.”
Mr Kumi further cautioned stockpiling of gas at home due to safety concerns in the event of a fire outbreak.
He further indicated that the prices of LPG would not be affected by high demand within the pricing window which covers March 16 to March 31.
“We are still buying the LPG as we should buy and no one can hike,” he allayed fears.
Hundreds of customers had lined up for several hours at the Uni Royal Gas Station in Achimota when theghanareport.com visited the filling station.
The situation was no different at the Dzorwulu Gas Station.
Some customers said they were not aware the gas stations would be operational during the lockdown period, hence the need to fill their cylinders.
Others also raised issues about the short duration between the announcement and the date the lockdown was supposed to begin.
In their opinion, the notice should have been served on Thursday to allow enough time for the public to make preparations for staying indoors in the coming weeks.
The overwhelming numbers recorded on Saturday translated into massive sales as gas marketers cashed in.
Trinity Gas alone recorded triple its regular weekly average in Accra, with its Kumasi branch also registering more than double.