The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is confident adopting a 24-hour petroleum economy in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector will create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities.
Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, made the remarks at the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the 24-Hour Economy Authority and the National Petroleum Authority, marking a key step toward implementing round-the-clock operations across the sector.
He highlighted the central role of the downstream petroleum sector in Ghana’s economy, noting its importance in powering transportation, industry and commerce.
Godwin Edudzi Tameklo indicated that existing operational limitations have led to inefficiencies and missed opportunities, which the new initiative seeks to address.
“The downstream petroleum sector remains a cornerstone of our economy. It fuels transportation, powers industries, supports commerce, and underpins nearly every aspect of modern life.
“However, for many years, operations within this critical sector have largely been limited to specific working hours. This has resulted in inefficiencies in the supply chain and missed economic opportunities,” he said
The CEO of the National Petroleum Authority added that adopting the 24-hour policy in the downstream sector will unlock the full value of the industry.
“Within the petroleum downstream sector, this vision translates into continuous, round-the-clock operations across key installations, bulk storage depots, refineries’ gantries, and retail outlets, ensuring that petroleum products are available, accessible, and efficiently distributed at all times.
“Adopting a 24-hour petroleum economy in the downstream petroleum sector will improve the availability and accessibility of petroleum products nationwide, enhance efficiency and reliability in the supply and distribution chain, create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities, and boost government revenue and stimulate economic growth.
“This initiative, therefore, is not merely about extending operating hours; It is about unlocking the full economic potential of the downstream petroleum value chain,” Godwin Edudzi Tameklo remarked.
The NPA CEO further underscored the importance of safety and security as operations expand into a 24-hour cycle, with support expected from national security agencies and emergency services to safeguard infrastructure and personnel.
Industry stakeholders, including oil marketing companies, bulk distribution firms, depot operators and transporters, are expected to play a pivotal role in the successful rollout of the programme through investments and operational readiness.
The MoU signals the beginning of coordinated efforts between the NPA and the 24-Hour Economy Authority to drive the transformation of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector into a more efficient, resilient and inclusive industry operating continuously.