The National Premix Fuel Secretariat is rapidly expanding the automation of premix fuel distribution as part of measures to strengthen accountability and safeguard resources meant for fishing communities.

The National Premix Fuel Administrator, Ebow Mensah, told the Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview that since taking over the reins of the secretariat last year, the number of automated sites had increased from 50 to 74 as of June this year, representing an additional 24 operational sites.

He explained that the expansion was intended to strengthen monitoring of fuel distribution, provide real-time oversight of premix fuel distribution, reduce opportunities for diversion and hoarding and improve transparency through real-time monitoring.

Mr Mensah said the Premix Fuel Automation  Project was part of reforms to provide greater transparency and the intensified nationwide monitoring of Landing Beach Committees (LBCs).

Mr Mensah said technology was increasingly becoming an important tool in the secretariat's efforts to close loopholes within the distribution system.

“Automation gives us better visibility.

We can monitor what is happening and reduce the room for diversion and hoarding,” he said.

The  project has also resulted in 24 site supervisors being trained and deployed, with the additional sites calibrated and test-run during the first half of 2026.

Mr Mensah stated that the training of supervisors was necessary to ensure that the technology was supported by personnel capable of operating and monitoring the systems effectively.

“It is not enough to install the system. We need people who understand it and can monitor it effectively,” he added.

Monitoring

He said the secretariat was also strengthening its monitoring, enforcement and technological systems to ensure that premix fuel operations were transparent and that community development funds were properly managed.

“We have visited 52 out of the 60 districts and the monitoring will continue until we cover all the districts,” Mr Mensah said.

According to him, the exercise formed part of a broader roadmap to improve governance within the premix fuel sector and ensure that the benefits of the scheme reached the intended beneficiaries.

Mr Mensah said the nationwide monitoring exercise was aimed at assessing the operations of Landing Beach Committees and ensuring that structures responsible for the distribution and  management of premix fuel complied with the applicable regulations.

He said the secretariat was examining both the operational and governance arrangements at the various landing beaches to identify gaps and address weaknesses that could undermine accountability.

“Our responsibility is not only to distribute premix fuel. We must also ensure that the system is properly managed and that the communities benefit from it,” he said.

He said monitoring and enforcement would continue across the remaining districts, with appropriate action taken where breaches or irregularities were identified.

Protecting community funds

Mr Mensah said the combination of physical monitoring and automation was critical to preventing the misuse of resources and strengthening accountability within the system.

The reforms are particularly relevant to the management of community development resources.

Under Legislative Instrument (LI) 2233, 53 per cent of premix fuel margins must be invested in community development projects.

Such resources are intended to support projects, including schools, libraries, CHPS compounds and other social infrastructure in fishing communities.

Mr Mensah said strengthening oversight was, therefore, essential to ensuring that funds earmarked for such projects were properly accounted for and ultimately benefited the communities.

“The money is meant for the communities, so we have to make sure that every cedi allocated for development is accounted for,” he stressed.