By Dominic Hlordzi
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has intensified its nationwide public safety campaign in the Eastern Region, with renewed fight against fuel siphoning while highlighting petroleum product quality and the use of the 10-litre standard measuring can as a consumer protection tool.
The initiative, dubbed the “Stay Back, Stay Safe” Campaign, aims to discourage the dangerous practice of siphoning fuel from overturned tanker accidents, an activity that continues to pose significant risks to lives, property and the environment.
As part of the campaign, a delegation led by the Director of Consumer Services, Mrs. Eunice Budu-Nyarko, undertook an extensive public education and stakeholder engagement tour across the region.
The exercise comprised media outreach, community engagement and targeted sensitization programmes.
During radio discussions on Bryt FM and Afeema FM in Koforidua, as well as Radio 1 in Bunso, the team emphasized the life-threatening consequences of fuel siphoning and urged citizens to maintain a safe distance from fuel tanker accident scenes.
In addition to media engagements, the team conducted direct interactions with transport operators, traders and the general public in key commercial centres, including Suhum, Nsawam, Adawso and the Koforidua township.
The engagements addressed not only the dangers associated with fuel siphoning but also broader consumer protection issues.
The campaign was further extended to selected tertiary institutions, including Koforidua Technical University, All Nations University and SDA College of Education.
Students were cautioned against the growing trend of rushing to fuel tanker accident scenes to siphon fuel or capture content for social media.
Addressing the students, the Head of Consumer Education and Stakeholder Engagement, Maureen Adwoa Duori, warned against prioritizing social media engagement over personal safety.
She stressed that lives are being unnecessarily endangered, noting that tanker fires can spread up to 400 metres within seconds, turning such scenes into potential death traps.
She urged students to vacate such accident scenes immediately and alert the Ghana National Fire Service.
On his part, the Head of Consumer Data Analytics and Market Intelligence, Ing. Johnson Gbagbo Jnr. highlighted petroleum product quality as a critical aspect of consumer protection.
He explained that the Authority, in collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority, ensures that fuel pumps at service stations are properly calibrated and operated efficiently.
He further encouraged consumers to remain vigilant and to make use of the 10-litre standard measuring can, popularly known as “Ntease Kuruwa”, to verify fuel quantities whenever in doubt.
Ing. Gbagbo Jnr. also addressed domestic energy safety, cautioning against prolonged exposure to smoke from charcoal and firewood, which he likened to heavy cigarette smoking due to its harmful health effects.
He therefore encouraged adoption of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) as a cleaner and safer alternative to charcoal.
