NPA Warns: Unlicensed Fuel Stations Face Instant Shutdown and Demolition
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has issued a stark warning to fuel station operators across Ghana run without a valid license and face immediate closure, with the risk of having your facility permanently decommissioned.
In a strongly worded statement, the NPA reaffirmed its legal authority under the National Petroleum Authority Act, 2005 (Act 691) to regulate every commercial activity in the petroleum downstream industry, from storage and distribution to marketing and sales.
The regulator says the clampdown is aimed at rooting out illegal operations and forcing full compliance with safety and market rules.
Quoting Section 11 of Act 691, the NPA stressed: “No person shall engage in petroleum downstream business unless licensed by the NPA Board.” The Act covers activities including importation, exportation, shipment, refining, storage, transportation, and sale of petroleum products such as diesel, LPG, and kerosene.
Licenses, the NPA reminded, are reserved for Ghanaians or foreign firms in registered joint ventures with Ghanaian partners that meet strict local content requirements. Operators must also display permits prominently at their business premises.
The NPA says the enforcement drive is not negotiable, warning that defaulters will be dealt with to protect consumers, maintain market integrity, and ensure safety in Ghana’s expanding petroleum sector.
