The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has reiterated its resolve at ensuring compliance to rules and regulations governing operations in the country’s downstream petroleum industry.
Acting Chief Executive of the authority, Godwin Kudzo Tamekloe said even though his outfit would attach human face to the law, it will not hesitate in enforcing sanctions against industry players who violate the established rules of engagement.
He gave the caution at the opening of the second edition of the NPA Downstream Compliance Workshop in Accra on Monday 12, May, 2025.
Mr Tamakloe assured stakeholders in the industry that he would protect their businesses while also enforcing the law to ensure industry growth and sustainability.
“As the acting CE of this Authority, I will not do anything to harm your business, but if you go contrary to the law, we will ensure full compliance. We will continue the partnership, but let there be mutual respect.
We will ensure increased compliance. We will also ensure compliance with the rules and procedures. The reason we have to do that is for our collective safety. Central to this is the issue of compliance in order to make the industry feel comfortable for all players”, he stated.
The NPA Boss cautioned those who would want to intervene for offending companies not to attempt noting that regulations are at the core of the work of the NPA.
“Regulations come with the law, and the law is the law. Once the law is the law, it comes Non-compliance comes with sanctions”, he said.
Mr. Tamekloe also announced moves to humanize the current system that deactivates defaulting companies from the NPA’s portal and indicated that such companies would be given a five-day grace period to comply, so as not to disrupt their operations.
He called on industry players to collaborate among themselves to help shape the future of the country’s downstream petroleum industry.
CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr Riverson Oppong, noted that while the downstream petroleum industry holds significant potential for growth, it is often burdened by excessive regulatory oversight and lengthy bureaucratic processes.
These obstacles he said lead to market inefficiencies, delays in product availability, and rising costs that ultimately affect consumers.
Dr Oppong urged stakeholders to prioritize timely financial obligations, noting that effective sector operations are heavily dependent on prompt payments and streamlined processes.
“For the downstream sector to thrive, we must overcome these bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure regulatory processes are swift and transparent,” he said.
Dr Oppong also highlighted the growing demand for petroleum products in regions like the Upper East, adding that strategic planning and better regulatory frameworks are crucial for sustainable growth.
Among those attending the three-day event are representatives from Bulk Oil Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECS), Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), LPG Marketing Companies (LPMCs), Refineries, Storage Depots, Allied Facilities Operators, and transport companies.
Topics being covered at the workshop include Unified Petroleum Price Fund Regulations and Claims Management, Compliance in Petroleum Product Imports and Exports and Distribution Operations.
Others are Licenses, Permits, Legal Requirements, and Local Content. Recommendations from the WORKSHOP are expected to be consolidated into actionable strategies to drive compliance.
