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The Steering Committee set up by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to spearhead the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy initiative within the downstream petroleum industry has held its first meeting on the creation of a strategic roadmap for the long and short terms.
The committee has been tasked by the President, John Dramani Mahama, through the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition and the 24-Hour Secretariat, to develop regulatory frameworks, strategies, and implementing timelines to operationalise the 24-Hour Economy policy across the downstream petroleum value chain.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Executive (CE) of NPA, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, underscored the significance of the initiative, stating that the 24-Hour Economy was a key policy direction of the government and one that the President was determined to see realised.
He emphasised that the downstream petroleum sector was uniquely positioned and ready to lead the transformation.
“We are ready to ensure that the 24-Hour Economy in the Downstream Petroleum Sector aligns with national development plans and energy security,” Mr Tameklo noted.
The NPA CE said the 24-Hour Economy programme was dear to the President, who wanted it started in the downstream petroleum industry to serve the other sectors.
He called for effective collaboration among the various security agencies to ensure the successful implementation of the programme.
A representative of the 24-Hour Economy Plus initiative at the Presidency, Roland Azuvugu, said the programme was being rolled out in other sectors of the economy.
Therefore, he said, fuel retail outlets needed to start the programme to serve the other sectors that had started the implementation.
For his part, the Chairman of the Tanker Drivers Union, George Nyaunu, said roads leading to depot sites were in a deplorable state, causing damage to vehicles.
He, therefore, appealed to the Minister of Roads and Highways to prioritise the construction of depot roads to facilitate the transportation of fuel products.
Stakeholders pledged their support to the initiative in helping to assess funding needs and support resource mobilisation efforts, including public-private partnerships, as part of the committee’s Terms of Reference.
The committee, in consultation with the 24-Hour Secretariat at the Office of the President, is tasked with providing high-level policy and strategic guidance for the 24-Hour Economy and overseeing the work of the sub-committees in implementing timelines and rolling out strategies.
The committee is also tasked with facilitating the resolution of institutional or jurisdictional bottlenecks during implementation.
The Steering Committee on the 24-Hour Economy is chaired by Mr Tameklo, with support from his two deputies, Dr Dramani Bukari and Dr Sheila Addo, and the directors of the authority.
Other committee members are the Managing Director of Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST), Afetsi Awonoor, the Chief Executive of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), Dr Patrick Kwaku Ofori, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr Riverson Oppong, Mr Azuvugu of the 24-Hour Secretariat, and Chief Superintendent Benjamin Aniah of the Ghana Police Service and other key stakeholders.
Dr Ofori stated that the programme was a test of Ghana’s commitment to effective and efficient use of human resources and institutions.
He said the downstream petroleum industry would witness excellent strides once the programme was successful.
The committee’s operational structure is hinged on three sub-committees: the Infrastructure and Technology Subcommittee, the Regulatory, Policy and Compliance Subcommittee, and the subcommittee responsible for Stakeholder Engagement and Public Awareness.
The NPA boss reiterated the authority’s resolve to work in collaboration with industry stakeholders to ensure the successful rollout of the 24-Hour Economy within the downstream sector, driving national development and energy accessibility around the clock.
