….Tanker accidents and fuel siphoning highlighted
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), in partnership with the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), has inaugurated Safety Week 2026, a four-day initiative aimed at enhancing collaboration and reinforcing health, safety, security and environmental (HSSE) standards across Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
The event, held on 7 April 2026 at the GIMPA Executive Conference Centre, brought together regulators, industry leaders and key stakeholders under the theme, “Manage the Risk Before It Becomes an Incident.”
Opening the programme, COMAC Board Chairman Gabriel Kumi underscored the importance of a unified vision and collective accountability in advancing safety, while acknowledging the NPA’s leadership in coordinating sector-wide initiatives.
Dr Riverson Oppong, Chief Executive Officer of COMAC, commended the NPA for strengthening regulatory compliance, improving petroleum supply resilience and driving operational efficiency. He urged participants to collaborate closely under the Authority’s guidance to elevate industry performance and safety standards.
The Chief Executive of the NPA, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, highlighted key safety concerns within the sector, particularly the rising incidence of fuel tanker accidents and the dangerous practice of fuel siphoning at accident scenes.
He noted that the Authority has intensified its public safety campaigns and is working closely with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and other stakeholders, including tanker driver unions, tanker owners and the Ghana National Fire Service, to address the challenge of inexperienced tanker drivers and enhance road safety.
He reaffirmed the NPA’s commitment to proactive safety interventions to safeguard lives, infrastructure and operational continuity, particularly amid global supply uncertainties.
In a keynote address, the Minister of Energy commended the NPA’s leadership and called for the integration of robust safety practices into daily operations and for increased public awareness to promote a resilient and accountable downstream petroleum sector.
Additional presentations from the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) and the Department of Factory Inspectorate (DFI) emphasised regulatory compliance, preventive systems and sustained collaboration.
The opening day also featured a practical fire safety demonstration and a panel discussion on building a proactive safety culture.
The NPA’s Director of Risk, Joseph Awen Awan, stressed the need to address technical capacity gaps, noting that effective safety management depends on equipping personnel with the requisite expertise to anticipate and mitigate risks.
Safety Week 2026 continues with a series of engagements focused on strengthening industry-wide commitment to safety excellence.
