NPA Raises Minimum Prices for Petroleum Products in February 2026
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has announced an increase in the minimum price levels for petroleum products for the second pricing window of February 2026. The new price floors will take effect from February 16 to 28, 2026.
Under the directive, no Oil Marketing Company (OMC) is permitted to sell petrol below GH¢10.24 per litre, up from GH¢9.99 in the first pricing window of the month. Diesel prices have also risen from GH¢10.95 to GH¢11.34 per litre, while the price floor for LPG is now set at GH¢9.43 per kilogram.
Companies currently selling below these levels will be required to adjust pump prices upward to comply with the directive. The move may also compel some OMCs, which had intended to maintain existing prices due to competition, to revise their rates.
The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies has urged all OMCs and LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to adhere strictly to the established price floors under the Petroleum Products Pricing Guidelines.
The Chamber clarified that the price floors exclude additional costs, such as premiums charged by international oil trading companies, operating margins of Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs), and the marketers’ and dealers’ margins of OMCs and LPGMCs. These costs are to be determined independently by the respective companies.
The Chamber emphasized that compliance is crucial to maintain market stability, protect consumers, and ensure fairness across the downstream petroleum sector.
The NPA introduced the price floor policy in April 2024 to prevent price distortions and promote market stability within Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector. The initiative, aligned with the Petroleum Pricing Guidelines, seeks to enhance transparency, sustainability, and fairness in fuel pricing.
The Authority noted that the policy ensures a predictable and balanced pricing structure, benefiting consumers while supporting fair business practices. It added that the decision followed industry recommendations, citing non-compliance and “serious price undercutting” by some operators.
The latest adjustment comes amid ongoing debate in the petroleum sector. Market leader Star Oil recently exited the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) after opposing the price floor.
Following an emergency board meeting, a majority of COMAC members voted to allow the NPA to proceed with the price floor implementation.
COMAC has defended the policy as necessary to prevent the downstream petroleum industry from “collapsing.” However, Star Oil contends that the price floor limits its ability to set competitive prices based on current market conditions.
