‘No Room for Error’ as 24-Hour Economy Kicks In
By Leo Nelson
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has fired a major warning shot across the bows of oil marketing companies: safety is no longer optional – it is the price of doing business.
Speaking at the 2026 HSSEQ Week hosted by GOIL PLC in Tema, NPA Chief Executive Godwin Edudzi Tameklo declared the regulator’s “unwavering commitment” to tightening health, safety, security, environment and quality standards across the downstream petroleum sector.
The venue, the GOBitumen Terminal was no accident. It is a high-stakes facility where mistakes can be fatal. And the timing, coinciding with the ILO World Day for Safety and Health, gave the event global resonance.
But here is the twist. This year’s theme is not just about hard hats and fire drills. It is “Promoting a Positive Psychosocial Working Environment” meaning the NPA is now taking dead aim at stress, fatigue and mental well-being.
Why? Because Ghana’s new “24-Hour Economy” policy means refineries, depots and filling stations will operate round the clock. A tired worker is a dangerous worker. The NPA knows that a stressed workforce makes mistakes and mistakes in the fuel business can kill.
Tameklo heaped praise on GOIL for “institutionalising HSSEQ across its nationwide operations”, calling the state-owned giant a “model for the industry”. The message to rival Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) could not be clearer: match GOIL’s standards or face the regulator’s heat.
“The Authority will continue to provide regulatory guidance and oversight to support companies in achieving the highest standards of compliance and performance,” Tameklo said.
The NPA is also doubling down on specific threats that keep safety officers awake at night: fuel tanker accidents and the dangerous, illegal practice of fuel siphoning. Through its “Stay Back, Stay Safe” campaign and enhanced technical audits, the regulator is promising to hunt down violators.
When market leaders like GOIL raise the bar, it creates a ripple effect. Better safety means fewer disasters, less environmental damage, and more investor confidence. That, the NPA argues, protects the integrity of the entire downstream market – and ultimately, the price you pay at the pump.
But the hard truth is this: periodic inspections are not enough. The NPA says it is building a “sustainable safety culture”. That means random audits, stiff penalties, and no sacred cows.
The bottom line
Ghana’s energy sector is changing fast. New technology. Greener fuel. 24-hour operations. The NPA has signalled that human lives and mental health will be at the centre of its strategy.
Now the industry waits to see if the regulator has the backbone to back its bold talk with tough action. Tameklo insists the Authority is ready. For OMCs cutting corners, the clock is ticking.