The NPA has also strengthened its capacity to intensify monitoring and inspection mechanism to ensure safety standards at the various stations are rigorously enforced. These measures, it said, would help curb or reduce any unforeseen petroleum related accidents.

A press statement issued by the Corporate Affairs Division of the NPA to the Ghana News Agency, in Accra to update the public on measures the Authority had taken a year after the Mansco Atomic gas explosion said.

The statement said the NPA has carried out risk assessment of LPG refilling plants in all the 10 regions, and that, the findings would be part of the general implementation of the National LPG Policy Implementation.

“The NPA is reminded of its utmost obligation to help educate the general public on the safe use of LPG to forestall any accident; and we are committed to that,” it stated.       On October 7, last year, the nation experienced a gas explosion at the Mansco Refilling Plant at the Atomic Junction, Accra, which resulted in seven deaths and 132 people injured.

Following that unfortunate incident, Cabinet directed a number of actions, among which is the implementation of the National LPG Policy on October 12, 2017, through the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) of LPG Distribution.

The Ministry of Energy subsequently directed the NPA to constitute an implementation committee to plan and execute the policy.  The policy objective is to ensure at least 50 per cent of Ghanaians have access to safe and environmentally friendly LPG for domestic, commercial and industrial use by 2030.

In order to achieve the 2030 target, the NPA was empowered to oversee the implementation of the following plans: Development of a market driven structure that ensures safety and increase access to LPG, Enhance the capacity of existing regulatory institutions in order to meet the regulatory requirements of the new market structure, and ensuring the existence of robust and standard health, safety and environmental practices in the production, marketing and consumption of LPG.

The others are, ensuring the sustainability of supply under the new market structure, and Ensuring Local Content and Participation in the LPG sub-sector in compliance with the Downstream Local Content Policy.

The statement said the CRM policy is aimed at addressing concerns about Public Safety, Product Quality, Accessibility, Availability and Affordability. The constituted National LPG Policy Implementation Committee, which includes none LPG service providers also adopted a roadmap towards the implementation process.

The roadmap focuses on four thematic areas. They are the Regulatory Framework, Cylinder Recall, De-commissioning of high risk refilling plants and training and capacity building.  Petroleum Service Providers involved in the consultation process include; Bulk Distribution Companies, Storage Companies, Oil/LPG Marketing Companies, Tanker Drivers and LPG refilling plant operators.

The rest are: members of the Council of State, members of the National House of Chiefs, Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy, Regional House of Chief, Municipal and District Assembly officials, Organised Labour, Women Groups, Market Women, Traditional Caterers and the public.