The 2025 Midyear Industry Report on Ghana’s petroleum downstream sector has stirred controversy among oil marketing companies, who are questioning the sharp increase in petrol, diesel, and LPG consumption in the Upper East and Upper West regions despite relatively low economic activity in those areas.
For the first half of the year, Ghana’s petroleum consumption across all products reached over 3.62 billion litres, representing a 17.65% increase over the 3.07 billion litres consumed during the same period in 2024.
Surprisingly, the Upper East Region recorded an exceptional 80.2% growth, followed by the Ashanti Region with 22.2%, Upper West with 21.7%, and the Eastern Region with 21.2%.
The Brong Ahafo Region followed with 19.2%, the Western Region with 17.9%, and the Central Region with 16.2%, while Greater Accra recorded 6.9% growth. The Northern and Volta Regions recorded 9.4% and 3.4% growth respectively.
In terms of products breakdown, the report revealed that petrol consumption in the Upper East Region grew by 86.39%, while diesel increased by 68.54%, alongside a 32.37% rise in LPG consumption and a dramatic 571.53% surge in Cell Site Gasoil.
However, kerosene usage declined by 50%, indicating that households are shifting to cleaner fuels.
Regional Fuel Consumption Analysis
The Ashanti Region recorded an 18.57% rise in petrol consumption, 7.49% in diesel, and 18.28% in LPG, reaffirming its status as Ghana’s economic and commercial hub. Demand for Cell Site Gasoil surged by 261.54%, while kerosene consumption fell slightly by 12.5%.
In the Upper West Region, total supply rose by 21.72%, driven by an impressive 85.93% jump in LPG — the strongest in the country and clear evidence of successful LPG penetration. Petrol rose by 24.71%, diesel by 12.96%, while kerosene demand remained stagnant.
The Eastern Region expanded by 21.17%, supported by strong growth in diesel (12.99%) and petrol (15.84%), while LPG inched up by only 1.32%. Kerosene and premix consumption, however, declined sharply by 7.14% and 56.14%, respectively. The standout product was Cell Site Gasoil, which recorded an extraordinary 1,021.59% growth.
In the Western Region, consumption grew by 17.87%, led by diesel (37.34%) and petrol (47.73%), reflecting increased mining and industrial activity. LPG use rose moderately by 11.48%, but kerosene (-76%) and Cell Site Gasoil (-40.54%) volumes declined. Notably, Marine Gasoil (Foreign) surged by 832.09%, reinforcing the region’s role as Ghana’s offshore and maritime hub.
Greater Accra, the largest consumer with over one billion litres, grew by just 6.94%, indicating a saturated market. Petrol and diesel consumption increased marginally by 4.57% and 3.55%, respectively, while kerosene fell sharply by 41.72%, and Marine Gasoil (Local) declined by 24.52%. In contrast, Fuel Oil for Power Plants skyrocketed by 4,572.7%, driven by industrial power generation needs.
The Volta Region recorded the slowest growth at 3.37%. Gains in petrol (17.29%) were outweighed by declines in diesel (-4.53%), LPG (-31.09%), and kerosene (-100%). Although Cell Site Gasoil rose sharply by 538.79%, overall volumes remained low.
In the Brong Ahafo Region, total volumes rose by 19.17%, supported by robust growth in petrol (31.95%) and diesel (32.36%). LPG dipped slightly by 8.34%, while Cell Site Gasoil fell sharply by 70.52%.
Finally, the Northern Region recorded a 9.37% increase in total volumes, with diesel (12.89%) and petrol (9.82%) leading the growth. However, LPG consumption fell significantly by 49.53%, a concerning setback to national efforts to promote LPG use in the northern sector. On a positive note, Cell Site Gasoil rose by 70.85%.
COMAC Challenges Report Findings
Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, October 6, 2025, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr. Riverson Oppong, and Board Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Kumi, described the midyear report figures as “very outrageous.”
They questioned why regions with relatively low economic activity recorded high fuel consumption compared to economically vibrant areas.
According to them, some Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) may be lifting products from depots in Tema but dumping them in Greater Accra, while falsely claiming to have transported them to the Upper East and Upper West Regions to fraudulently claim the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF).
They further noted that the infractions and irregularities in the 2025 midyear industry report were worse than those recorded in the same period of 2024.
Dr. Oppong and Mr. Kumi expressed shock that two of their members — Yass Oil and Moari Oil — with 79 and 9 retail outlets respectively, could increase their half-year sales from 25 million and 28 million litres in 2024 to 120 million litres in the first half of 2025.
Dr. Oppong added that COMAC has written to the two OMCs and to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the industry regulator, to seek clarification on the reported irregularities
Source: https:// energynewsafrica.com
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