Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has come under scrutiny after attributing recent fuel price hikes in Ghana to the ongoing war in the Middle East.
According to the NPA CEO, Ghana is currently facing an extraordinary situation as the conflict continues to disrupt global energy markets and increase the cost of transporting petroleum products.
Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, Edudzi Tamakloe cited International Energy Agency (IEA) reports which, he said, describe the current crisis as the worst since the 1970s.
He further pointed to rising insurance and shipping costs around the Strait of Hormuz as factors contributing to higher fuel prices.
According to Edudzi Tamakloe, the increased cost of operating in the region has contributed to the pressures currently affecting fuel prices.
Edudzi Tamakloe stated, “In fact, the International Energy Agency reports that this current crisis is, let me say, the worst since the 1970s. So what it tells you is that we are facing a certain extraordinary situation.
I’ll give you another example. Prior to the war, the insurance premium paid was about $50. Today it’s about $220. Vessels that move around the Strait of Hormuz: the crew, you needed $12,000 to manage the crew on board.
Today, if you look at the data from the Ghana Maritime Authority, it is between $50,000 and $80,000. What it means is that it has become more expensive to do any undertaking within the Strait of Hormuz, which has culminated in the kind of scenarios that we are having today.”
The NPA’s CEO explanation, however, has revived comments he made while in opposition during the previous Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration.
At the time, Tamakloe and other opposition figures criticised the government’s use of the Russia-Ukraine war as an explanation for rising fuel prices and broader economic difficulties.
Critics have subsequently drawn a comparison between his current explanation and his earlier position, arguing that similar international factors were downplayed when the previous Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration cited the Russia-Ukraine conflict as one of the factors behind economic hardships.
The NPA’s CEO’s current position has therefore raised questions about whether his current justification for fuel price increases is consistent with his earlier criticism of the previous government.
Some Ghanaians reacting to his comments stated, “Yet you plus the entire NDC refused to get the understanding that the Russian/Ukraine war had a terribly bad impact on our economy”.
A netizen added, “So Ukraine had no economic effect when the NDC was in opposition, but today international conflict is an “extraordinary situation” when fuel prices rise?
The standard should be the same whether you’re in government or opposition. You people eh”.
One X user added, “When it got to your turn you want us to believe there’re certain extraordinary situations??
Which extraordinary situation was more than Covid 19 and the Russia-Ukraine war?
Masa, keep quiet and fix the mess”.
A netizen added, How much is the price of a barrel of crude- 107. Under Nana Addo, it was 120+, yet it was never sold at this high level. NPP encountered the Ukraine-Russia war and Covid -19. NDC is only facing the USA-Iran war”.
One last netizen added, “U go explain taya. When u speak falsehood to power, time will expose you. And to those who voted for NDC in 2024 or decided not to vote because of fuel prices as sold by NDC, by the current prices of fuel, NDC is telling you that YOU ARE A FOOL”.
Watch the video below:
Rising fuel prices: We are facing certain extraordinary situation – Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, CEO, National Petroleum Authority.
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) September 17, 2026
Watch more here: https://t.co/QIAKVrYia0#JoyNews | #PMExpress pic.twitter.com/gMIsINf8NX
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