Think tank and fuel workers' union urge Parliament to rethink NPA Bill over BOST's future

Pinned summary · as of 16:37

A policy think tank and a fuel-sector workers' union have asked Parliament to revisit the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Bill, 2026, saying it could leave BOST Energies unable to do the job of protecting Ghana's fuel reserves. The think tank, known as the IERPP, laid out its case at a press conference in Accra led by its Executive Director, Prof. Isaac Boadi.

What we know

• The IERPP, a policy think tank, has urged Parliament to reconsider parts of the NPA Bill, 2026, arguing that the proposals could erode the operational independence and financial health of BOST Energies, the state-owned company that stores and moves petroleum products.
• Prof. Isaac Boadi, the IERPP's Executive Director, told a press conference in Accra that tougher regulation of the downstream petroleum industry is needed but must not weaken the state company that runs critical fuel-security infrastructure.
• The IERPP says government cannot make BOST answerable for national fuel security while removing the authority and resources the company needs to deliver on that duty. It also questions whether BOST can stay financially sound if rival depots are licensed and take the more profitable business.
• The IERPP has called for the bill to be withdrawn and thoroughly reviewed, for BOST to keep the lead role in managing the country's strategic reserves, and for dedicated funding for reserves and related infrastructure.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Energy News Africa reported that the fuel-sector workers' union GTPCWU raised similar objections in a letter to the chairperson of Parliament's Energy Committee, signed by its General Secretary, Fuseini Iddrisu. The union says the bill would let the regulator license several depot network operators, whereas earlier law provided for a designated network of strategic storage depots run by BOST or another body for the state. No other report has confirmed the letter or its contents.
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  The Vaultz News reported that the IERPP, citing the 2025 State Ownership Report, put BOST's total revenue at GH₵3.84 billion in 2025, up from GH₵1.33 billion in 2024, and its net profit at GH₵683.96 million, up from GH₵398.4 million. These numbers come from the think tank's reading of that report and have not been confirmed independently.
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  According to The Vaultz News, the IERPP also said BOST's operating margin slipped from 31% to 19% because of higher direct trading costs, and estimated that nearly half of the company's 658 employees could face risk if its finances worsened sharply. Both points are the think tank's own assessment and are unconfirmed.
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  The Vaultz News reported that the IERPP made seven main demands, among them a transparent tariff framework, a clear split between the NPA's regulatory work and any commercial activity, and explicit permission for BOST to sell directly to oil marketing companies. Only this report has carried that list, and the NPA has not been reported as responding.

Why it matters for Ghana

BOST Energies holds the fuel reserves and depot network that Ghana would lean on if supply were disrupted, so the rules that govern its money and powers affect fuel availability for motorists, transport operators and businesses. If Parliament changes the bill, or leaves it as drafted, the outcome will shape how the company is funded and whether its workers keep their jobs. Lawmakers on the Energy Committee now have both a union letter and a public campaign to weigh before the bill moves forward.