By Linda Naa Deide Aryeetey
Accra, Nov. 20, GNA – Mr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, has charged the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to embrace innovation, technology and transparency to remain relevant in the decades ahead.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary celebration of the NPA in Accra, the Minister said the authority needed to reposition itself for the rapidly changing global energy landscape.
“The downstream regulator had played a significant role in stabilising fuel supply, promoting fair competition and safeguarding consumer interest,” he said.
“However, the next phase of the sector required stronger adaptation as the world shifts towards cleaner fuels and renewable energy.”
Mr Jinapor said the petroleum sectors transparent pricing formula, which factors in global market prices and exchange rates, had allowed industry actors and consumers to accurately project fuel price movements and contributed to greater market confidence over the years.
He said Ghana now recorded one of the highest numbers of electric vehicles (EVs) in Africa, driven by a growing private-sector investment in charging infrastructure and the falling cost of renewable technology.
“The NPA must reposition to remain relevant as many vehicle owners are reducing their fuel expenditure by as much as 70 per cent due to EV adoption, more Ghanaians are installing solar systems and, in some cases, going completely off the national grid,” Mr Jinapor said.
The government was undertaking comprehensive reviews and reforms in the downstream sector, including the enactment of a new NPA law, he noted.
The new legislative framework, he explained, would empower the Authority to better regulate cleaner and alternative fuels, enhance market transparency, strengthen consumer protection and align the pricing structure with national development goals.
“My objective as Minister is simple to position the NPA as a regulator for the future: responsive, innovative, digitally enabled and environmentally aligned,” he stated.
He reaffirmed governments committed to working with the NPA to modernise its systems, strengthen its human capital and build capacity to meet emerging energy challenges.
“The NPA is not just a regulator; it is a symbol of national progress,” Mr Jinapor said, urging the Authority to reflect on its achievements while preparing boldly for the future.
The 20th anniversary celebration, on the theme: “20 years of fuelling Ghana’s Progress; the journey the legacy and the future “marked two decades of nation-building, resilience and service to Ghana’s economy, he said.
Mr Godwin Tameklo, Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, said the authority had, over the years, centred its operations on effectively supervising the country’s deregulated downstream regime, facilitating the removal of restrictions and enabling the establishment of operational facilities that have opened the space to private importers, distributors and retailers.
That, he said, allowed market actors to set their own ex-refinery and ex-pump prices without government interference.
The CEO said the Authority would in its next chapter focus on stronger innovation, increased support for cleaner fuels, greater investment in renewable alternatives and promoting energy efficiency across the value chain.
The National Petroleum Authority is Ghana’s regulator for the downstream petroleum industry, established by the NPA Act, 2005 (Act 691), which oversees the pricing, distribution, and quality of petroleum products nationwide.
The Authority ensures consumer protection, promotes safety in fuel operations, and works to maintain a stable, transparent, and efficient petroleum market.
It also leads public education, monitors industry players, and enforces compliance to guarantee safe and reliable energy for Ghanaians.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe