{
  "id": 15913132,
  "title": "NPA seeks complete overhaul of Petroleum Authority Act 691 to address sector challenges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/npa-seeks-complete-overhaul-of-petroleum-authority-act-691-to-address-15913132",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T16:01:08.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/npa-seeks-complete-overhaul-of-petroleum-authority-act-691-to-address-sector-challenges/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is advocating for a complete overhaul of the Petroleum Authority Act 691, arguing that the legislation from 20 years ago fails to adequately address the evolving challenges in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector. NPA Chief Executive Officer, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, made this plea during a meeting with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on October 21, 2026. He emphasized that the existing act, Act 691, requires revision to reflect the changes in the petroleum market and fortify the regulatory framework. \"The National Petroleum Authority Act, Act 691, within Sections 62 to 65, governs the entire thing. Madam, I’m sure pretty soon something will be coming before Parliament,\" he stated. Recognizing the critical role of petroleum products in the economy, Tamakloe stressed that such products demand a distinct regulatory approach compared to other commodities due to their significance and the potential impact of pricing decisions on consumers. He cited cement pricing as an instance where local price differences could create market distortions, cautioning against applying a similar strategy to petroleum. “We know, like commodities like cement, the price of cement differs from community to community. But we realise that petroleum is so essential that if you run petroleum like you run cement pricing, you create distortions in the system,” he warned. Tamakloe also expressed concerns over the implications of pricing structures on consumers in northern Ghana, where poverty rates are notably higher. He underscored that higher prices in the north, beyond individuals' control, could exacerbate existing socioeconomic disparities. The NPA CEO called for a regulatory framework that adequately addresses the downstream petroleum sector’s distribution systems to ensure fairness and efficiency. Although the NPA Act, 2005 (Act 691), established the Authority to regulate, oversee, and monitor Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry, the authority aims to overhaul the existing legal framework. This proposal comes amid sectoral challenges, including pricing distortions and tax evasion. While Tamakloe indicated that a legislative proposal may be presented to Parliament, he did not disclose specific changes or a timeline for the bill's introduction. The PAC engagement allowed the Authority to articulate the necessity for legal changes to better govern the sector.",
  "summary": "The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is calling for a complete overhaul of its governing law, saying the 20-year-old legislation no longer adequately addresses the evolving challenges in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector. The Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, made the call during an engagement with Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Wednesday, October…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Joy Business",
        "title": "NPA seeks complete overhaul of Petroleum Authority Act 691 to address sector challenges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/npa-seeks-complete-overhaul-of-petroleum-authority-act-691-to-address",
        "published": "2026-10-21T16:01:08.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}