Abass Tasunti is the Director of Economic Regulation and Planning at NPA
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has justified its decision to maintain the Fuel Price Floor Programme, insisting that the policy remains crucial due to ongoing pricing disparities within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
According to the Director of Economic Regulation and Planning at the NPA, Abass Tasunti, in an interview with JoyNews, said the regulator has taken full notice of the pricing disparities and would not take any action that could trigger broader sectoral disruptions.
He explained that the structural challenges which necessitated the introduction of the price floor remain unresolved, with persistent unfair pricing practices continuing to pose risks to stability in the downstream petroleum sector.
“The industry we regulate is a very sensitive one. We do not want to take decisions that could plunge it into crisis. Looking at current market developments, the National Petroleum Authority has no plans to remove this policy,” he said.
He also emphasised that Ghana’s petroleum sector is closely linked to financial institutions, which serve as conduits for regulators in policy decision-making.
Fuel could sell for GH¢9.50 without NPA price floor – Star Oil CEO hints
Prices of petroleum products at the pumps for the second pricing window of January 2026 sparked conversations, with fuel selling at GH¢9.99 at Goil, while Star Oil, the leading Oil Marketing Company, is selling at GH¢9.97.
The NPA’s stance comes amid mounting pressure from sections of the industry advocating for the removal of the price floor.
However, the Chief Executive Officer of Star Oil, Philip Tieku, has argued that scrapping the policy would allow pump prices to decline further, given current market dynamics.
He maintains that consumers are being prevented from fully benefiting from falling prices due to the continued enforcement of the programme.
The Petroleum Price Floor Programme was introduced by the NPA in April 2024, mandating Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to adhere strictly to a minimum fuel price.
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