Axim to host NPA’s Consumer Week tomorrow
Officials of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), in conjunction with the chiefs and people of Axim in the Western Region, will launch a consumer week in Axim tomorrow to draw the public’s attention to the need to use petroleum products in a safe way.
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The move, which forms part of its annual Consumer Awareness Week, will be used to educate urban and rural households on the safe handling of LPG, petrol, kerosene and diesel.
The celebration will see the congregation of all stakeholders from the bulk users to smaller ones and be hosted by Awulae Attibrukusu III, the Vice-President of the National House of Chiefs, and attended by the sector minister, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, and Prof. Ivan Addae-Mensah, Chairman of the Petroleum Commission.
This year’s theme: “Petroleum Products are safe; use them safely,” will focus on the role of all stakeholders at all levels as usage of petroleum products increases.
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The Head of Public Relations and Consumer Service at the Authority, Mr Yaro Kasambata, said the choice of Axim as venue for this year’s event tomorrow, is to afford the NPA the opportunity to educate fisher folks, fish processors, hotels, households and others who depend on petroleum products on the safe handling of fuel.
Bad memories
In recent times there have been media stories about petroleum products-related accidents which have resulted in a lot of social problems and robbed the country of much needed skill in the fishing industry.
The launch of the consumer awareness, Mr Kasambata said, would be followed by well-coordinated campaigns that would educate the public on fuel stations siting and consumer safety.
Petroleum products like any other commodities have their dangerous side. However, the laid-down safety precautions would create conditions where users and retailers could coexist without any difficulty.
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“As a regulator, the authority’s fiduciary role is to ensure that the industry remains efficient, profitable, fair and, while at the same time, ensuring that consumers receive value for money,” he said.
The various commercial activities of the industry include: importation, exportation, re-exportation, shipment, transportation, processing, refining, storage, distribution, marketing and sale of petroleum products.
The industry is one of the key sub-sectors and a major contributor to Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The industry presently boasts more than 5,000 service providers including “gewgaw” and an annual sales value of about GH¢14 billion according to 2015 figures, which is about 10 per cent of the country’s GDP.