Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor Urges Stronger Safety Measures in Ghana’s Petroleum Sector

The Member of Parliament for Awutu Senya East, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, has emphasised the importance of prioritising human safety in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector, insisting that protecting consumers must go beyond administrative regulations and technical guidelines.

She made the remarks during the 2026 Consumer Week Celebration organised by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), held at Ofaakor Park in Kasoa, Central Region, on Thursday, November 5, 2026.

Speaking at the event, which was held under the theme “Safe Downstream, Confident Consumers,” the legislator explained that safety in the petroleum industry should be treated as a responsibility towards human life, livelihoods and the dignity of consumers.

According to her, the effective regulation of the downstream petroleum sector must focus on ensuring that Ghanaians receive safe petroleum products and are protected from practices that could put their lives and properties at risk.

“Safety in the downstream petroleum sector is not just a set of administrative rules or technical guidelines. It’s about protecting human life, safeguarding livelihoods, and treating the Ghanaian consumer with dignity,” she stated.

Okunor further stressed that consumer confidence could only be achieved when safety standards were consistently enforced and petroleum service providers operated responsibly.

She also called for stronger regulatory oversight, including regular inspections of fuel stations, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) facilities and other petroleum installations.

The Awutu Senya East MP maintained that consumers deserved protection against unsafe petroleum products, inaccurate fuel measurements and unfair business practices.

Her comments formed part of broader discussions at the celebration, which brought together petroleum industry stakeholders, regulators, community leaders and consumers to address issues affecting the downstream petroleum sector.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, announced that the Authority’s Governing Board had approved new Consumer and Public Complaints Procedure Guidelines to strengthen consumer protection.

He explained that the guidelines would require petroleum service providers to acknowledge complaints promptly and resolve them within 30 days. Consumers who remain dissatisfied with the outcome would also have the opportunity to refer their complaints to the NPA.