GOIL PLC Launches HSSEQ Week 2026 with a Focus on Psychosocial Well‑Being
On Tuesday, Ghana’s largest indigenous oil marketing company, GOIL PLC, kicked off its annual Health, Safety, Environment and Quality (HSSEQ) Week for 2026. The campaign, which runs through the week, places a renewed emphasis on creating a positive psychosocial work environment alongside traditional physical safety measures.
Leadership Reinforces Integrated Safety Commitment
Edward Abambire Bawa, Group CEO and Managing Director of GOIL, opened the event by reminding attendees that safety remains the cornerstone of the company’s operations. He pointed to GOIL’s triple ISO certification — ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental stewardship, and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety — as evidence of the firm’s systematic approach to risk management.
The head of GOIL’s HSSEQ division added that the 2026 programme is designed to strengthen the existing safety culture by explicitly addressing psychosocial hazards such as stress, burnout, and interpersonal conflict. “A safe workplace is not only about hard hats and safety boots; it also hinges on how supported and heard our people feel,” he said.
Industry Leaders Endorse a Holistic Approach
Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), praised GOIL’s initiative and unveiled the newly released Staff HSSEQ Handbook. He described the handbook as a model for downstream petroleum firms, noting that it consolidates best‑practice guidelines on both physical safety and mental‑well‑being practices.
Riverson Oppong, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of the Commodity Markets Advisory Centre (COMAC), echoed this sentiment. In his remarks, he stressed that security in the downstream sector must extend beyond physical protection to include mental well‑being, open communication, responsible leadership, and workplaces where employees feel respected and empowered to speak up.
“When employees feel safe, supported, valued, and empowered, we see higher productivity, stronger teamwork, and improved morale,” Dr. Oppong emphasized. He added that such human‑centered environments boost accountability and lead to better safety outcomes overall.
Keynote Address Calls for Continued Investment
Dr. Robert Amesiya, the week’s keynote speaker, reinforced the message that true workplace safety encompasses mental health. He urged GOIL and its peers to allocate further resources toward counselling services, resilience training, and regular climate‑survey assessments.
“As we roll out a week of impactful activities, GOIL remains committed to building a culture that puts safety, care, and people first,” the company stated in a press release accompanying the launch.
Highlights of HSSEQ Week 2026
- Interactive workshops on stress‑management and resilience building.
- Panel discussions featuring mental‑health professionals and occupational safety experts.
- Distribution of the Staff HSSEQ Handbook to all operational sites.
- Site‑specific safety drills that incorporate communication‑feedback loops.
- Recognition awards for teams demonstrating exemplary psychosocial safety practices.
Through these activities, GOIL aims to translate its policy commitments into everyday behaviours that nurture both the body and mind of its workforce. The initiative underscores a growing trend in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector: safety is increasingly viewed as a multidimensional concept where physical protection and psychological well‑being are inseparable.
