The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, Dr. Patrick Kwaku Ofori, has thrown his support behind ongoing investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) into alleged irregularities within Ghana’s petroleum sector.

While endorsing the anti-corruption drive, Dr. Ofori criticised the manner in which a recent raid was conducted, describing it as unfortunate and urging authorities to strictly adhere to due process in such operations.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, April 12, he noted that industry players remain committed to accountability and transparency, stressing that any company found culpable should be dealt with accordingly.

“We support the OSP to clamp down any individual business involved in illicit activities but it is unfortunate how they carried out the raid,” he stated.

Dr. Ofori further called on the OSP to be open about its findings, especially in instances where investigations do not establish wrongdoing.

“We hope that after the investigations and it comes out as a false alarm, they will be bold enough to come out and clear them,” he added.

He underscored the need for balance in enforcement efforts, cautioning that while regulatory actions are necessary to safeguard the integrity of the sector, they should not unfairly damage the reputation of businesses that may later be exonerated.

The OSP recently disclosed that it had undertaken coordinated, court-authorised search operations at five fuel depots and related facilities belonging to Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) as part of a broader probe into suspected petroleum sector fraud.

The operation, executed across multiple locations, is focused on an alleged scheme involving under-declaration of petroleum imports, misclassification of products during depot transfers, and tax evasion.

According to a now-deleted post on the OSP’s official X page, preliminary findings point to suspected collaboration between some BDCs and officials within the National Petroleum Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, and the National Security Secretariat, with intermediaries allegedly facilitating illicit financial flows.

The companies under investigation are Platon Oil and Gas Ltd, Sentuo Oil, Akwaaba Oil, Sahara Oil and Gas Ltd, and Chase Petroleum Ghana Ltd.

The OSP confirmed that the searches have been completed, with both documents and electronic evidence retrieved to aid the investigation. It also indicated that several persons of interest are currently in custody.

The anti-corruption agency assured the public that investigations remain ongoing and that further updates will be communicated as the case progresses.