NPA boss cautions public against approaching overturned fuel tankers

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, has urged Ghanaians to stay away from overturned fuel tankers, warning that attempts to collect spilled fuel could put lives at risk.

He made the appeal during the 2026 NPA Consumer Week Celebration, where he emphasised that personal safety must take precedence over any opportunity to obtain fuel from accident scenes.

“Your life is priceless, and no amount of fuel is worth risking it,” Mr Tameklo said. “Stay back from overturned tankers and give emergency responders room to work. Your family needs you home safely.”

He cautioned that people who gather around such incidents, whether out of curiosity or to scoop spilled petroleum products, expose themselves to danger and could obstruct emergency response operations.

According to him, the presence of unauthorised persons at accident scenes can also hamper the efforts of trained personnel working to contain the situation and prevent further harm.

Mr Tameklo further called on members of the public to demonstrate solidarity by discouraging others from approaching overturned tankers and promptly alerting emergency services.

“True community spirit means protecting one another,” he said. “When a fuel tanker overturns, encourage others to stay away and alert emergency services from a safe place. Your decision to act responsibly could save an entire family from heartbreak.”

The warning forms part of the NPA’s Consumer Week activities, which seek to educate consumers about safety and their rights within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

The Authority has advised the public to immediately move away from overturned tankers, warn others to maintain a safe distance and contact the fire service, police or ambulance service from a secure location.

It has also stressed the importance of allowing trained emergency responders to manage such incidents rather than attempting to intervene.