The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Edudzi Tamakloe, has warned that people who rush to collect fuel from accident tankers are committing theft and could face prosecution.
He said the practice, often treated as an opportunity to obtain free fuel, was a criminal offence that posed serious safety risks to those involved.
Mr Tamakloe gave the warning when he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
“What you describe as a rush for fuel is stealing, for want of a better word, and you know in this country stealing is an offence,” he said.
He further cautioned that anyone who diverts petroleum products could face fines, imprisonment or both under the applicable law.
“A person who diverts petroleum products commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not less than 2,500 penalty units and not more than 5,000 penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not less than two years or five years or both,” he added.
To address the practice, Mr Tamakloe said the NPA had introduced a public education campaign dubbed “Stay Back, Stay Safe” to discourage people from approaching fuel tankers involved in accidents.
He warned that gathering around damaged tankers carrying highly flammable products could have devastating consequences, particularly when people attempt to siphon fuel.
His comments followed concerns about the need for systems to alert emergency services when fuel tankers are involved in accidents, enabling the Police, Ghana National Fire Service and ambulance teams to respond promptly and secure accident scenes.
Responding to questions about the monitoring systems installed on the vehicles, Mr Tamakloe explained that the sensors are activated when a tanker starts moving and stop when it comes to a halt.
He said the technology also helps the Authority track vehicle movement and determine the freight payable.
The NPA’s warning forms part of efforts to discourage fuel theft and prevent avoidable injuries and deaths at tanker accident scenes.
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