The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Edudzi Tamakloe, has issued a strong warning to individuals who engage in fuel siphoning at tanker accident scenes, cautioning that such acts will soon attract arrests and prosecution.
Addressing Parliament’s Energy Committee, he described the practice as both illegal and highly dangerous, noting that some people rush to accident sites with gallons to collect fuel from damaged tankers.
According to him, others go as far as puncturing the tankers to siphon fuel—an extremely reckless act that significantly increases the risk of explosions.
He explained that such incidents have, in many cases, resulted in severe injuries and loss of life.
Mr Tamakloe stressed that beyond the safety risks, the act also constitutes theft.
He said authorities are stepping up efforts to curb the practice by collaborating with media outlets to help identify offenders.
He revealed that videos captured at accident scenes will be shared with the Ghana Police Service to assist in identifying and arresting individuals involved.
“We will share videos with the police to identify and arrest anyone attempting to siphon fuel. Stay away or you are risking your life,” he warned.
He further urged the public to stay away from tanker accident scenes, emphasising that attempting to siphon fuel is not only criminal but also puts lives at serious risk.
