A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has begun a three-day study tour in Ghana to examine the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) regulatory framework for fuel quality standards and downstream petroleum operations.
The delegation comprises regulators and representatives of institutions responsible for managing downstream petroleum sectors across the ECOWAS sub-region.
The study visit is intended to provide a platform for Member States to exchange experiences, share best practices and strengthen collaboration on the implementation of harmonised fuel quality standards across the region.
It is also expected to enhance regional capacity and accelerate progress towards a more coordinated approach to fuel quality regulation.
Welcoming the delegation to the NPA, the Chief Executive of the Authority, Mr Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, said Ghana’s fuel quality assurance framework could serve as a useful reference for other ECOWAS Member States seeking to strengthen their regulatory systems.
He, however, stressed that while Ghana’s experience offered valuable lessons, each country should adapt best practices to suit its own national circumstances and regulatory environment.
Mr Tameklo also underscored the importance of collaboration, peer learning and sustained partnerships in building a more integrated, resilient and efficient regional petroleum market.
Responding on behalf of the delegation, the Acting Director of Energy and Mines at the ECOWAS Commission, Mr Arkadius Koumoine, emphasised the significance of harmonised fuel quality standards in promoting sustainable development across the region.
He said common fuel quality standards were essential for protecting public health, safeguarding the environment, strengthening energy security and combating illicit fuel trade.
The study tour forms part of broader efforts by the ECOWAS Commission to promote regional cooperation and support the adoption of harmonised standards that will improve the regulation of the downstream petroleum industry across West Africa.
