A group calling itself, Community Eye, has raised red flags over what it describes as unjustifiably high fuel prices at GOIL filling stations across the country as compared to private oil marketing firms.
It has therefore called on the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to act swiftly to address the issue.
This was contained in a letter addressed to Chief Executive Officer of the authority, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, by Founder and Convener of the group, Ismail Imran.
The group wondered why a state owned Oil Marketing Company GOIL with distinct operational advantages will sell fuel at higher prices compared to several private competitors.
“It is puzzling,” Imran wrote, “considering that GOIL enjoys exemptions from certain taxes and operational licenses, as well as a wider distribution network that should reduce operational costs.”
The letter notes that, companies such as Benab Oil, Star Oil, Kinship Oil, Amser Oil, and Puma Oil are consistently offering lower prices at the pump.
Community Eye emphasised that GOIL was originally established to lead the market in competitive pricing and serve as a price benchmark for the petroleum sector, helping to stabilise the cost of transportation and other essentials. According to the group, that mandate appears to be slipping.
Transport unions such as the GRTU and PROTOA have also reportedly expressed discontent with GOIL’s current pricing regime, opting instead for cheaper private alternatives.
The letter urged the NPA and GOIL management to undertake a “strategic review and reset” of GOIL’s pricing model to better reflect its market advantages and realign with its public service mission.
“A pricing realignment would not only restore public trust but also have broader benefits—reducing lorry fares, commodity prices, and easing the cost of living,” Imran stated.
