Ghana: NPA Urges Fuel Dealers, Tanker Drivers To Comply With Petroleum Industry Regulations

Ghana’s downstream petroleum regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has urged fuel retail outlet operators and tanker drivers to comply with industry regulations, warning that offenders involved in illicit petroleum activities will face sanctions and prosecution.

The regulator said practices such as sourcing fuel from unauthorised suppliers, operating without the required permits and engaging in fuel siphoning could compromise fuel quality and damage the reputation of petroleum service providers.

Speaking at the second edition of the NPA Regional Downstream Compliance Workshop held in Ghana’s Central and Western regions from June 30 to July 2, NPA Director of Business Development Godwin Yaw Konu said compliance was critical to maintaining standards in the downstream petroleum sector.

“The integrity of petroleum products must be maintained for the benefit of consumers and the industry as a whole,” Konu said.

The workshop, organised by the NPA’s Business Development Directorate, brought together fuel dealers and bulk road vehicle drivers to discuss regulatory requirements, operational challenges and measures to improve compliance across the petroleum value chain.

Konu said the downstream petroleum industry makes a significant contribution to Ghana’s economy and that continued stakeholder engagement was necessary to reinforce regulatory standards.

He also advised fuel dealers to regularly monitor water levels in underground storage tanks following recent heavy rains to prevent contaminated fuel from reaching consumers.

NPA Head of Security and Intelligence Isaac Djagbetey urged petroleum service providers to source products only from authorised depots and warned against supplying fuel to illegal mining operations, locally known as galamsey.

Richard Apaloo, a senior manager with the NPA’s Inspections, Monitoring and HSSE Directorate, called on fuel dealers to keep valid regulatory documents available for inspection.

Meanwhile, Nana Afua Nuamah Bosumtwi, Head of Claims at the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF), cautioned tanker drivers against tampering with vehicle tracking systems and encouraged timely submission of transport documentation to facilitate claims processing.

Adams Baba Adams of the NPA’s Quality Assurance Directorate urged dealers to ensure fuel quality standards were maintained to protect consumers and prevent vehicle damage.

The regulator also encouraged consumers to report cases of suspected fuel under-delivery or poor product quality within 48 hours to aid investigations.

Officials from the Ghana National Fire Service conducted fire safety training and emergency response drills, while the National Road Safety Authority urged tanker drivers to adopt defensive driving practices and respect other road users to reduce accidents.