The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, has delivered a heartfelt appeal to Ghanaians to protect their lives by staying away from overturned fuel tankers, warning that the temptation to collect petroleum products from accident scenes could lead to irreversible tragedy.
Speaking at the 2026 NPA Consumer Week celebration in Kasoa on Thursday, November 5, Mr Tameklo cautioned against the dangerous practice of gathering at accident scenes to siphon 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 published 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.
Mr Tameklo urged residents to allow the appropriate authorities to handle tanker emergencies and warned against encouraging others to collect fuel.
His remarks put the human cost of unsafe behaviour at the centre of the discussion, noting that a moment spent collecting spilled fuel can expose an individual to danger and leave a family facing an irreplaceable loss.
