The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has launched a nationwide enforcement campaign to shut down fuel stations operating without licenses, citing mounting safety concerns and violations of regulatory standards.
The Authority warned individuals and entities engaged in the storage and sale of petroleum products to comply with licensing requirements under the National Petroleum Authority Act, 2005 (Act 691).
The crackdown targets unlicensed operations involved in importation, exportation, refining, distribution, and retail of petroleum products.
In a public notice, the NPA explained its legal mandate under the National Petroleum Authority Act, 2005 (Act 691), as amended, to regulate all commercial activities involving the storage, distribution and sale of petroleum products.
“Reference is made to Section 11 of the National Petroleum Authority Act, 2005 (Act 691) as amended. (1) A person shall NOT engage in a business or commercial activity in the petroleum downstream industry UNLESS that person has been granted a license for that purpose by the (NPA) Board. (2) The business or commercial activities of the downstream industry in respect of crude oil, gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas, kerosene and other designated petroleum products include (a) Importation; (b) Exportation; (c) Re-exportation; (d) Shipment; (e) Transportation; (f)Processing: (g) Refining (h) Storage; (i) Distribution; (j) Marketing, and (k) Sale.
“Section 12 of Act 691 as amended states that “A license under this Act may only be granted to (a) a Ghanaian, or (b) a foreign company in a registered joint venture relationship with a Ghanaian in accordance with the Ghanaian content and Ghanaian participation requirements. The Act also states that a license issued under this Act shall be conspicuously exhibited by the licensee in a prominent place on the business premises,” the NPD stated.
It emphasised that the Act, a licensed issued shall be conspicouusly exhibited by the licensed in a prominent place on the business premesis.
The NPA has pledged to decommission all unlicensed facilities and urged the public to report suspicious fuel stations to the Authority.
“By this notice, the NPA is cautioning all persons that failure to acquire the requisite license as required by the NPA Act will result in the locking up and or decommissioning of all illegal outlets.”
