CEO urges industry players to strengthen safety standards and consumer protection as fuel demand rises by 12.24%
The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has reaffirmed its commitment to improving safety standards, product quality and consumer protection in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
The Chief Executive Officer and Industry Coordinator of COMAC, Dr. Riverson Oppong, said the Chamber and its members would continue to prioritise safety compliance, operational efficiency and accountable service delivery to strengthen public confidence in the petroleum industry.
Speaking at the climax of the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) 2026 Consumer Awareness Week celebrations on November 5, 2026, under the theme “Safe Downstream, Confident Consumers,” Dr. Oppong disclosed that COMAC’s safety assessments recorded an average compliance score of 82.09 per cent across petroleum retail outlets assessed in 2025.
He said the performance reflected investments and efforts by industry players to improve safety practices, while acknowledging that more work remained to address existing compliance gaps.
Dr. Oppong explained that COMAC was using compliance assessments, mystery shopping exercises, member engagements and annual Safety Week celebrations to identify operational deficiencies, reinforce industry standards and promote continuous improvement.
He stressed that consumer confidence must be demonstrated through everyday operations at petroleum retail outlets, including accurate fuel dispensing, transparent pricing, quality products and professional customer service.
According to him, safety responsibilities extend across the entire petroleum supply chain, from transportation and storage to retail distribution and end use.
He therefore called on industry operators to invest in well-maintained facilities, equipment, staff training and effective emergency preparedness to minimise risks to workers, consumers and surrounding communities.
Dr. Oppong also highlighted the increasing demand for petroleum products in Ghana, revealing that consumption grew by 12.24 per cent in the first half of 2026 to reach 4.06 billion litres.
He said the rising consumption levels required corresponding investments in infrastructure, maintenance and operational controls to ensure that industry growth did not compromise safety and service standards.
The COMAC Chief Executive further emphasised the importance of consumer education, urging members of the public to understand their rights and responsibilities and report suspected fuel adulteration, inaccurate dispensing and unsafe practices through appropriate channels.
He commended the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and the NPA for their leadership in promoting consumer protection and strengthening engagement between industry stakeholders and the public.
Dr. Oppong urged petroleum industry operators to make safety and accountability central to their operations, stressing that every litre of fuel sold carries an obligation to the consumer.
On behalf of COMAC’s Board of Governors and its members, he reiterated the Chamber’s commitment to building a downstream petroleum industry founded on safe operations, reliable products and responsible service delivery.
He said the ultimate objective was to ensure that every petroleum transaction demonstrated integrity, every facility upheld safety standards and every consumer received the confidence and protection deserved.
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