National Coordinator of the District Road Improvement Programme, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye, has cautioned that Ghana’s current five-week petroleum stock cover, though reassuring, is insufficient to shield the country from prolonged global supply disruptions.
Vanderpuye stressed the need for long-term energy security built on domestic capacity rather than reliance on imports.
He argued that while the existing stock levels represent progress, they fall short of what is required to withstand sustained international shocks.
He underscored the importance of self-dependence, urging policymakers to prioritise home-grown solutions and expand local production.
“Self-dependence is key. Home-grown solutions and home-grown production are key so that when we are faced with these international situations, we can resist. I am happy the NPA is saying that we have five weeks’ stock, but even though it is good and unprecedented, it is not enough. I wish we could say that we have a stockpile of six months, a year, or more,” he said.
He maintained that the country should be targeting a far more robust buffer — ideally stockpiles capable of lasting six months to a year to prevent domestic hardship in the face of unexpected global developments.
He further pointed to the need to enhance the operational capacity of the Tema Oil Refinery, arguing that increasing local refining output would significantly reduce Ghana’s vulnerability to international supply chain disruptions.
Expanding refining capacity, he said, would allow the country to build stronger reserves and better protect consumers from external price and supply shocks.
Meanwhile, the National Petroleum Authority has moved to calm fears of a possible fuel shortage, assuring the public that the country currently holds adequate petroleum stocks despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
