The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has expressed concern over the excessive number of filling stations registered under the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), calling for urgent reforms in the downstream petroleum sector.

According to CEMSE Executive Director, Mr. Benjamin Nsiah, over 2,000 filling stations are currently listed in the NPA’s records, a figure he describes as alarming and in need of urgent review.

He questioned why many of these stations, despite failing to meet regulatory standards, continue to renew their licenses annually.

Speaking at a one-day workshop for journalists on energy sector reporting, organized by Energy News Africa Limited, Mr. Nsiah compared Ghana’s situation to Ivory Coast, a country with a larger population but fewer filling stations.

He noted that some stations in Ghana remain idle and non-functional, yet still manage to retain their licenses, raising concerns about regulatory oversight.

Mr. Nsiah backed the call by the new CEO of the NPA for sweeping reforms in the petroleum downstream sector to ensure proper regulation, efficiency, and compliance with industry standards.

The workshop was chaired by Dr. Kwame Ampofo, former Managing Director of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), with Ambassador Kabra Blay Amihere, former Board Chairman of Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), as the keynote speaker.

Other speakers included Charles Wundengba of Wundef Media and Dr. Riverson Oppong, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC).

They educated journalists on key industry terminologies and emphasized the need for transparency and accurate reporting in Ghana’s energy sector.