COMAC probes suspected fuel data inflation in Upper East, Upper West
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has launched an internal investigation into data submitted by two of its member companies concerning petroleum consumption figures for the first half of 2025.
According to the Chamber, reported volumes from some members, particularly in the Upper East and Upper West regions, show unusually high growth, raising concerns over data integrity and potential manipulation.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of COMAC, Dr Riverson Oppong, said the figures released contradict both industry projections and the Chamber’s internal analysis of regional consumption patterns.
“Some of the numbers appear inflated and may not reflect the true situation on the ground. We suspect these figures could have been manipulated to gain more from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), which is managed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA),” Dr Oppong stated.
Data reviewed by the Chamber for the first half of 2025 shows the Upper East Region recorded the highest petroleum consumption growth at 80.23 per cent, followed by the Ashanti Region with 22.20 per cent. The Upper West and Eastern Regions also registered substantial increases.
No region recorded a decline in petroleum consumption during the period, contrasting sharply with the 3.85 per cent decrease experienced in the Volta Region over the same period in 2024.
According to Dr Oppong, such figures are inconsistent with expected consumption patterns, particularly in regions where fuel demand is typically stable or slightly declining due to population and economic activity levels.
“We are engaging both the NPA and our own members to ensure transparency. Indirectly, we are telling you that there are concerns with some of the figures our outlook projected,” he said.
The Chamber has formally written to the two implicated companies, Moari Oil and Yass Petroleum, requesting that they submit detailed data for independent scrutiny and verification.
Meanwhile, COMAC’s Board Chairman, Mr Gabriel Kumi, has called for a complete abolition of the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), arguing that it has become prone to abuse and inefficiency.
He explained that the fund, which consumers contribute to on every litre of fuel purchased, was established to subsidise the transportation of petroleum products to all parts of the country, ensuring uniform pricing nationwide.
“Unfortunately, the fund is being abused by some entities. It no longer serves its intended purpose, and it is time to review or completely scrap it from the petroleum price build-up,” Mr Kumi asserted.
The Chamber has since commenced discussions with the National Petroleum Authority to strengthen data integrity, enhance monitoring systems and ensure fair and transparent reporting practices across the petroleum downstream sector.
