'My Biggest Fear Is the Loss of Lives': NPA Chief Issues Emotional Plea Against Fuel Siphoning After Deadly Year on Ghana's Roads

The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, has delivered a heartfelt appeal to Ghanaians to stay away from overturned fuel tankers, warning that the temptation to siphon petroleum products from accident scenes has already exacted a devastating toll in human lives this year.

Speaking at the 2026 NPA Consumer Week celebration at Kasoa Ofaakor Park on Thursday, November 5, Tameklo cautioned against the dangerous practice of gathering at tanker accident scenes to collect fuel. "My biggest fear is the loss of lives," he said, explaining that property could be recovered while the loss of a human life was irreversible .

His warning echoes the NPA's established "Stay Back, Stay Safe" campaign, which discourages fuel siphoning and dangerous gatherings at tanker accident scenes. The Authority's safety guidance also cautions people against approaching such scenes to take photographs or videos, advising the public to leave the response to trained professionals, including the Ghana National Fire Service and the Police .

A Deadly Pattern

The NPA chief's warning carries particular weight given the carnage witnessed on Ghanaian roads in 2026. On February 14, a fuel tanker broke down along the Accra–Kumasi highway near Okanta. Individuals attempted to breach the tanker using cutting tools, igniting petrol vapour and triggering an explosion that engulfed the tanker, a VIP bus, three saloon cars, and four motorcycles. Three people died at the scene, and the death toll later rose to six, with 15 casualties recorded in total .

The Ghana National Fire Service's investigation found that sparks generated during attempts to illegally breach the tanker with cutting tools likely ignited the petrol vapours . The tragedy underscored what safety experts have long warned: fuel vapours are highly flammable and can travel significant distances, turning any siphoning attempt into a potential death trap .

Beyond the Immediate Blast

Fire safety experts note that the dangers extend beyond the immediate explosion. Alex King Nartey of the Ghana National Fire Service has explained that fuel vapours are toxic and can render people unconscious or even cause death through inhalation. The recommended safety buffer for people at fuel tanker crash sites is 100 to 300 metres .

Tameklo also addressed the legal dimension, describing fuel siphoning as an illegality and cautioning that the laws would catch up with perpetrators . The NPA has previously warned that those who divert petroleum products face fines of not less than 2,500 penalty units and not more than 5,000 penalty units, or imprisonment of between two and five years, or both .

Consumer Protection Focus

The Consumer Week celebration, held under the theme "Safe Downstream, Confident Consumers," also saw the NPA announce the Governing Board's approval of new Consumer and Public Complaints Procedure Guidelines aimed at strengthening consumer protection and building public confidence in the petroleum downstream sector .

But for Tameklo, the message on fuel siphoning remained the most urgent. He urged residents to allow the appropriate authorities to handle tanker emergencies and warned against encouraging others to collect fuel, stressing that decisions taken at accident scenes could have consequences not only for those directly involved but for their families and communities .

As Ghana's highways continue to carry thousands of fuel tankers daily, the NPA's campaign faces an uphill battle against a persistent culture of rushing to accident scenes. The bodies counted in 2026 suggest the warning is not merely precautionary—it is a matter of life and death.