Ensuring a steady fuel supply and improved pricing are top priorities for the acting NPA boss.

Edudzi Tamakloe, the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has taken office at a crucial moment, as concerns about potential fuel shortages loom large.

A key priority for him is ensuring consistent fuel availability across the country, as fuel prices heavily impact businesses and the wider economy.

To address disruptions in petrol supply, particularly in the Northern regions, the NPA has implemented measures, including granting Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) special permission to load petrol from the Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) depot in Kumasi to supply the northern regions.

However, the rising cost of fuel, with petrol and diesel prices nearing GH₵16 per litre, presents another challenge, as public and business concerns over affordability continue to mount.

It remains unclear whether the acting NPA boss will collaborate with the government to implement measures like suspending certain petroleum product margins, a tactic previously used to control price increases.

Industry stakeholders, such as the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP), have raised alarms about levies and margins imposed on petroleum products.

Kodzo Yaotse, ACEP’s Policy Lead for Petroleum and Conventional Energy, criticized some of these margins as harmful to consumers, stating, “We don’t want NPA to be receiving any margins. We are asking that those margins be converted to tax handles within the control of the government so that those revenues accrue to the government for development purposes. NPA is already paid to do its work.”

He added, “NPA should focus on ensuring sufficient product availability and quality, not on collecting money for transportation or other purposes related to the product.”

Another significant issue for Tamakloe is the 2024 Petroleum Products Pricing Guidelines, which establish a price floor beneath which OMCs cannot sell their products. This policy has drawn criticism from energy sector think tanks. The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers has proposed introducing a price ceiling alongside the price floor to balance market deregulation with consumer protection.

As Edudzi Tamakloe assumes his role, he will need to make bold decisions to stabilize supply, tackle pricing issues, and restore confidence in Ghana’s petroleum sector.