The Director of Business Development at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Yaw Konu, has announced the launch of a nationwide safety campaign aimed at preventing deaths at fuel tanker accident scenes.

Speaking at the Africa Extractives Media Fellowship training session in Accra on Wednesday, February 18, Mr. Konu said the initiative, dubbed “Stay Back, Stay Safe,” is designed to discourage members of the public from rushing to accident sites involving trucks transporting petroleum products.

According to him, the NPA has become increasingly concerned about the growing trend of people gathering around overturned or damaged fuel tankers to siphon fuel — a practice that significantly heightens the risk of explosions and deadly fires.

“The NPA is launching a campaign which is ‘Stay Back, Stay Safe,’” he stated.

“When a truck carrying petroleum products is involved in an accident, we plead with citizens to stay away from the truck. Don’t go near the tanker.”

Mr. Konu stressed that no quantity of fuel is worth risking a human life.

“Your life is more important than the little product you are going to siphon from the truck,” he said.

“Don’t be in a rush to go to a full tanker accident scene in the name of siphoning one gallon.

Your life is more important than one gallon.”

He urged the public to allow accredited emergency response agencies, including the Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service, to manage such incidents.

Mr. Konu emphasised that trained personnel are better equipped to secure accident scenes, prevent potential explosions, and handle fuel spillages safely.

The “Stay Back, Stay Safe” campaign will rely on sustained public education and awareness drives to reinforce the message that safety must take precedence during petroleum-related accidents.

Appealing directly to citizens, he concluded, “Please stay back and stay alive. Your life is much more important to this country.”