A team from the ECOWAS Commission has visited Ghana to study the regulatory framework and practices adopted by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in managing the country’s downstream petroleum sector.
The delegation, made up of regulators and representatives of institutions responsible for downstream petroleum management across the sub-region, is in Ghana for a three-day study tour aimed at promoting knowledge exchange and regional cooperation.
The engagement is expected to provide a platform for ECOWAS Member States to share experiences, exchange best practices and strengthen efforts towards implementing harmonised fuel quality standards across the region.
Welcoming the delegation at the NPA on Monday, the Chief Executive of the Authority, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, described Ghana’s fuel quality assurance framework as an important reference point for other countries within the ECOWAS community.
Mr. Tameklo, however, stressed that while member states can learn from one another, each country must adapt successful approaches to suit its own national circumstances and regulatory environment.
He emphasised the need for stronger collaboration, peer learning and sustained partnerships to build a more integrated, resilient and efficient regional petroleum market.
The Acting Director of Energy and Mines at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Arkadius Koumoine, said harmonised fuel quality standards were essential to protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, improving energy security and addressing challenges associated with illicit fuel trade.
He noted that regional cooperation among petroleum regulators would be critical in achieving common standards and ensuring a more coordinated downstream petroleum industry within the ECOWAS region.
