NPA pilots 24-hr economy in petroleum downstream
The pilot phase of the government’s flagship 24-hour economy programme in the downstream petroleum industry has been launched in Accra to enhance operational efficiency and boost productivity within the petroleum sector.
The programme is expected to cover 268 fuel stations (retail outlets), eight depots and two refineries across four regions in the country.
The initiative will begin in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Northern regions as part of efforts to improve efficiency and ensure uninterrupted fuel distribution nationwide.
The programme will also include operations at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Sentuo Oil Refinery, alongside major depots in Tema, Kumasi and Takoradi.
It is also expected to deploy modern technology for real-time monitoring, and to introduce structured workforce systems to support round-the-clock operations.
The participating depots include the BOST Depot in Kumasi, APD Global, Tema Tank Farm Petroluem Storage Solutions (TTF), Tema Fuel Company (TFC), Vana Energy, and Quantum Terminals in Tema, as well as Ghanstock Depot and Zen Terminals in Takoradi.
It is champoined by the government through the National Petroluem Authority (NPA), with support from TOR, BOST Energies, Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), and the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC).
The pilot launch in Accra yesterday featured a trip to the JP Fuel Station on the Spintex Road for a symbolic launch of the project led by officials of the NPA and the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPA, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, assisted by the Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah; Presidential Advisor on the 24-hour Economy policy, Goosie Tanoh; Chief Executive Officer of the COMAC, Riverson Oppong; CEO of JP Trustees, Joshua Larbi, and other officials performed the symbolic ribbon cutting ceremony.
It was on the theme: “Powering Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Through an Efficient Petroleum Downstream Sector".
Adequate security
Speaking at the launch, Mr Tameklo stated that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) had pledged support for the 24-hour service initiative by ensuring adequate security to facilitate smooth operations across participating fuel stations.
He said the collaboration with the Ghana Police Service would create a safe environment for both workers and customers as the programme readied to expand across the country.
He said the initiative was expected to improve service delivery, create employment opportunities, and increase productivity within the downstream petroleum sector.
“The IGP has assured us of the necessary security support to ensure the smooth implementation of the 24-hour service initiative across the petroleum industry,” he said.
Economic growth
The NPA CEO said the initiative aligned with President John Dramani Mahama’s vision for transformative economic growth through continuous operations and improved productivity.
He said the programme aimed to ensure uninterrupted fuel availability, improve supply chain efficiency, create jobs, reduce congestion and boost economic activity through round-the-clock operations.
Mr Tameklo said the phased implementation would allow for system testing, operational refinement, and enhanced safety measures, supported by modern monitoring technology and collaboration with security agencies and private sector stakeholders.
"This programme envisions continuous operations across key installations, including bulk storage depots, refineries gantries, LPG stations, and retail outlets, ensuring that petroleum products are always available and accessible to Ghanaians.
"The expected outcomes are clear: a more efficient and resilient petroleum supply chain, improved service delivery, expanded economic activity and meaningful job creation," he said.
Driving Productivity
The Presidential Advisor said Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy initiative was designed to transform productivity, expand employment and increase national output by extending economic activity beyond traditional working hours.
Mr Tanoh said the initiative had officially become operational six weeks after the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat and the NPA.
He said the petroleum downstream sector was selected as an early pilot because it supported every productive sector of the economy, including manufacturing, agro-processing, logistics and transportation.
"It is the President's instrument for raising what this country produces, what we earn from what we produce, and the number of Ghanaians who hold productive work.
"By November, fuel stock-outs and queues on the Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Tamale corridors at night and early morning will be lower than they are today. Depot to forecourt transit times will be shorter. Every part spacing site will be running clean, safe, properly staffed night operations, and there will be jobs," he said.
He argued that keeping fuel depots and supply chains active around the clock would allow industries to expand operations, reduce delays, and improve efficiency.
Mr Tanoh said the programme would be monitored through a four-part framework measuring economic performance, operational efficiency, labour outcomes, and safety standards to determine readiness for a nationwide rollout.
He assured industry operators that the government would work closely with them to address security, operational and policy concerns as Ghana moved toward full implementation of the 24-Hour Economy programme.
Vision into Action
For his part, the Deputy Energy Minister praised the NPA for leading the implementation of the government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda through a pilot programme in the downstream petroleum sector.
He described the transition from policy to practical implementation as a major milestone.
Mr Gyan-Mensah said it was significant that just a month after the signing of the MoU between the NPA and the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, the initiative had moved from vision to reality.
The Deputy Minister commended industry players, oil marketing companies, and security agencies for supporting the pilot programme, stressing that stakeholder readiness and collaboration were key to its launch.
