The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has rejected media reports suggesting the Auditor-General uncovered a GHS 78.6 million scandal. The Authority insists the audit did not establish any financial or revenue loss. This statement, issued on Monday, July 20, 2026, directly refutes claims of corruption or financial misappropriation.
The NPA’s Corporate Affairs Directorate stated that media characterisations of the Auditor-General’s findings as evidence of “rot” were inaccurate. These reports did not reflect the contents of the Performance Audit Report covering operations between 2023 and 2025. The Authority acknowledged issues identified in the audit but maintained that the report does not support allegations of corruption.
This development fits into Ghana’s ongoing efforts to enhance transparency and accountability within state institutions. Public scrutiny of audit reports is a critical component of good governance. The NPA’s response highlights the tension between audit findings and institutional interpretations, a common theme in public sector oversight. Previous reports have also raised concerns about revenue leakages in various sectors.
The NPA specifically criticised a publication by The NewsCenta newspaper for failing to include management’s responses to the audit findings. The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability, and sound corporate governance. It also urged the public to rely only on official communications regarding the matter.
The Auditor-General’s report, dated June 24, 2026, reportedly uncovered widespread weaknesses in the regulation, monitoring, and distribution of petroleum products. These weaknesses exposed the state to potential revenue losses and consumers to the risk of purchasing substandard fuel. The audit focused on the Authority’s failure to effectively implement the national fuel marking programme.
The report also highlighted weak enforcement of petroleum transport regulations and poor monitoring of fuel distribution. Questionable payments made to a fuel-marking contractor were also scrutinised. The audit found that petroleum products attracting Uniform Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF) margins, valued at GHS 78.6 million, were distributed without being marked.
These unmarked volumes amounted to 87.3 million litres of petrol. This raises concerns about possible tax evasion and the inability to verify the quality of fuel supplied to consumers. The Auditor-General warned that unmarked products provide no assurance of quality, exposing motorists to adulterated fuel.
The report also questioned payments to Nationwide Technologies Limited (NTL), the fuel-marking contractor. Auditors found that 638,500 litres of petrol were marked but never distributed. Despite this, the NPA paid NTL US$2.688 million for services. These payments included US$2.486 million in 2023 and US$202,080 in 2024.
The Auditor-General directed the NPA to refund the entire amount into the Auditor-General’s Recovery Account at the Bank of Ghana by December 31, 2026. Evidence of payment is required for verification. The audit also revealed that 9.78 million litres of petrol and diesel were diverted during 2024 and 2025.
This diversion breached the National Petroleum Authority (Bulk Road Vehicle Tracking and Volume Monitoring) Regulations, 2016 (L.I. 2251). Auditors found that the NPA merely rejected freight claims from offending Oil Marketing Companies. It did not apply statutory penalties like fines or imprisonment. This failure to enforce the law deprived the state of potential revenue and weakened deterrence against fuel diversion.
Significant shortcomings were also identified in the Authority’s fuel tracking system. Auditors found that 48,678 deliveries involving Aviation Turbine Kerosene (ATK) and Naphtha were not tracked. This occurred despite legal requirements to monitor all petroleum product distribution under the UPPF scheme. Management argued these products did not attract UPPF margins, but auditors rejected this explanation.
No official directive exempted these products from the tracking regime. This omission increases the risk of fuel diversion and weakens regulatory oversight, especially for aviation fuel critical to flight safety. The audit also found that only 2,514 of Ghana’s 4,904 Bulk Road Vehicles held valid licences as of April 9, 2026.
This means nearly half of the vehicles transporting petroleum products operated without valid permits. Management explained that operators received additional time to renew licences to avoid fuel supply disruptions. However, the Auditor-General cautioned that allowing unlicensed vehicles undermines safety and technical standards. Weaknesses were also highlighted within the UPPF Secretariat and the NPA’s Quality Assurance Directorate. Officials verified fuel orders before loading but failed to confirm quantities delivered matched quantities loaded.
The implications are significant for public trust and the integrity of Ghana’s petroleum sector. The NPA’s commitment to implementing recommendations will be closely watched. This situation could influence future regulatory reforms and enforcement actions. Markets will observe how these issues affect fuel quality and pricing stability.