The Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) has noted that the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has violated a presidential directive regarding the berthing and discharge of petroleum products at the Tema Port.

According to a statement issued by the chamber, the persistent disruption of the Laycan import schedule imposes significant financial burdens on Bulk Import, Distribution, and Export Companies (BIDECs).

The Laycan schedule, developed through multi-stakeholder consultations and published by the NPA, provides a framework for the efficient and orderly importation of petroleum products.

However, in 2025 alone, the schedule was revised more than four (4) times in the first quarter (Q1) and amended seven (7) times in the second quarter (Q2), arbitrarily and without consultation with the industry.

CBOD stated, "These frequent and unilateral changes have severely undermined operational predictability and imposed significant financial burdens on Bulk Import, Distribution, and Export Companies (BIDECs)."

Additionally, it noted that each revision affects up to ten cargoes, causing cumulative delays of approximately thirty days per incident.

"Between January and June 2025, BIDECs incurred over forty million United States dollars (USD 40 million) in demurrage and other associated costs. These unnecessary costs were unfortunately filtered into fuel prices at the pump, further burdening Ghanaian consumers," CBOD said in the statement.

The chamber described as "alarming" the increasing violation and repeated breach of the Laycan protocol, where BIDECs without assigned slots, often citing vaguely defined “emergency” needs, are being permitted to berth outside the established schedule.

"This practice has severely compromised transparency and fairness in the sector. Alarmingly, for the first time, a second-quarter (Q2) Laycan schedule has been extended into the third quarter, up to September 2025, further escalating uncertainty within the industry.

"Despite CBOD’s engagements and repeated proposals to the NPA to restore order and accountability to the Laycan system, no concrete action has been taken. The situation continues to deteriorate," CBOD noted.

SSD/MA

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