NPA CEO Raises Alarm Over Rising Fuel Tanker Accidents, Calls for Stricter Safety Measures
The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, Esq., has issued a stark warning about the growing public safety crisis posed by frequent road accidents involving Bulk Road Vehicles (BRVs)—commonly known as fuel tankers—across Ghana.
Speaking at the 2026 Safety Week organized by the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) in Accra, Tameklo framed the issue as a critical threat to all road users. The event, themed “Manage risk before it becomes an incident,” provided a platform for industry stakeholders to confront the alarming trend.
A Near-Miss That Underscores the Peril
Tameklo vividly recounted a recent near-tragedy in the Nsawam area, where a fuel tanker nearly collided with a bus carrying approximately 50 passengers. “If this isn’t a problem for any of us here then I don’t know what else is,” he stated, emphasizing that innocent motorists and pedestrians are increasingly caught in the crossfire of these preventable incidents.
His visible concern translated into immediate action. The NPA has initiated high-level discussions with key bodies, including the Tanker Drivers Union, the Tanker Owners Union, and the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), to diagnose the root causes of these accidents.
Questioning Driver Competence and Owner Responsibility
During his address, Tameklo posed critical questions that cut to the heart of the matter: “Are they inexperienced tanker drivers? Do the owners of these tankers prefer cheap labor? Or do we just let anyone drive?”
He underscored the massive financial investment at stake, reminding tanker owners that a single vehicle costs nearly $200,000. “I told the Tanker Owners Union that buying a tanker costs almost two hundred thousand dollars, so why should you put this tanker in the hands of an inexperienced driver?” Tameklo argued. “This is your investment and you have a responsibility to ensure whoever you entrust your tanker to has the necessary experience.”
Regulatory Overhaul on the Horizon
Given the highly flammable nature of petroleum products, Tameklo announced that the NPA will implement stricter regulatory controls. Future tanker registrations will require adherence to new key performance indicators (KPIs) and rigorous safety checklists. He also called on COMAC to partner with the authority in weeding out fraudulent operators who undermine safety standards.
Fire Service Cites Fatigue and Negligence as Primary Culprits
Supporting the NPA’s stance, Michael Korsah, Director of Fire Safety at the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), identified driver fatigue and negligence as leading factors in recent tanker accidents. He stressed that these incidents are entirely preventable with proper protocols.
Korsah urged truck owners to enforce mandatory rest breaks and discourage careless driving. “Security should not just be a slogan but a way of life,” he emphasized, advocating for a culture of safety that extends beyond the tanker cabin into all organizational and personal practices.
The Bigger Picture: A National Safety Imperative
While specific national statistics on BRV accidents for 2025 are still being compiled, historical data from the Ghana Road Safety Commission (GRSC) consistently shows that commercial vehicles, particularly heavy goods vehicles, are overrepresented in fatal traffic collisions. The inherent risk of transporting hazardous materials like fuel magnifies the potential consequences of any accident.
The coordinated push from the NPA and GNFS represents a significant escalation in efforts to address a systemic issue. By combining regulatory reform, owner accountability, and driver welfare, stakeholders aim to transform safety from a reactive concern into a proactive, non-negotiable standard.
The message from Accra is clear: the era of treating fuel tanker safety as a peripheral issue is over. The lives of Ghanaians on every road depend on decisive, collective action.
