Fraudulent oil deal – Navy arrest foreign vessel

Page 3: Daily Graphic, March 12, 2012. Story: Albert K. Salia A COLLABORATION between the Ghana Navy and their Nigerian counterparts has resulted in the arrest of a foreign vessel, MV Madina, at the Saltpond Oilfields. The vessel, which was discharging oil into another vessel at the Saltpond Oilfields, has since been escorted to the Takoradi Harbour for further investigations. The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Colonel M’bawine Atintande, told the Daily Graphic yesterday that the vessel was to be inspected by all stakeholders to establish the crew on board, the type and quantum of the oil before the Ghana Navy would officially hand over the MV Madina and the crew to the appropriate authorities. He said the Ghana Navy arrested the vessel after the Nigerian Navy alerted their Ghanaian counterparts about the suspicious movements of the vessel between Benin and Ghana. He explained that there had been a lot of collaboration between the security agencies in the sub-region, especially between Ghana and Nigeria. Col. Atintande said some personnel of the Ghana Navy were currently on board MV Madina, pending the inspection.