NPA has not Scrapped Fuel Discounting, Says Riverson Oppong
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, Riverson Oppong, has refuted assertions that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has eliminated fuel discounting within the downstream petroleum sector.
He maintains that the regulator has simply addressed what he describes as a long-standing irregularity in the pricing framework.
Speaking in an interview on PM Express on JoyNews, Dr Oppong said the public interpretation of the directive has been inaccurate and has distracted attention from more critical developments in the petroleum pricing environment.
“Indeed, when I hear that NPA has scrapped discounting, I find that a bit alarming,” he said. “NPA has not scrapped. They have rectified an error which I believe is long overdue to be corrected.”
His remarks come after the NPA announced a decision to stop the practice of discounted fuel pricing by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) under revised Petroleum Pricing Guidelines scheduled to take effect from March 16, 2026.
Under the updated directive, companies will be required to maintain consistent prices across all their retail outlets, ensuring that the pump price matches the price submitted to the regulator.
The NPA has further indicated that targeted or selective discounts at specific fuel stations will no longer be permitted under the revised pricing regime.
Dr Oppong, however, argued that public discourse has concentrated excessively on the discount issue while overlooking wider market dynamics and potential developments in the upcoming fuel pricing window.
“I don’t think that when NPA introduced this discounting regime, it gained that popular stance as scrapping it has done. The whole country is talking about the discount scrapped amidst a more important issue with the price hike,” he stated.
He suggested that the next petroleum pricing window could reveal more notable developments for both the industry and consumers.
“And let me say this, the next window will be very interesting. Look forward to that next window from the 16th of March. Ghana will know what real marketing is in terms of the oil industry or downstream is concerned,” he added.
Dr Oppong’s comments come at a time when industry observers and consumers are closely monitoring fuel price trends ahead of the next pricing window.
When asked whether his remarks reflected a pessimistic outlook for consumers, he rejected that suggestion.
“Why? I think everybody who knows me knows that I’m very optimistic and factual,” he said.
The discussion surrounding the NPA directive has intensified in recent days, with some industry participants and consumers expressing concerns that the removal of selective discounts could lead to an increase in pump prices.
However, Dr Oppong insists that the directive should not be seen as a complete removal of fuel discounting, but rather as a regulatory adjustment aimed at correcting inconsistencies within the petroleum pricing structure.
