Energy analyst Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku has cautioned that the government's recent diesel price reduction could leave the petroleum sector with more than GH¢1 billion in unpaid obligations.

He said the GH¢2-per-litre reduction, although offering relief to consumers, was achieved by reducing margins that support key activities within the petroleum industry rather than through direct government funding.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, he explained that the affected funds support services such as fuel transportation, price equalisation, product monitoring and infrastructure development.

According to him, diverting these resources towards reducing fuel prices could create financial pressure on institutions responsible for providing these services.

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He said a similar intervention in the past resulted in about GH¢800 million in arrears at the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and the latest measure could increase the outstanding amount.

The analyst estimated that the current one-month reduction could add about GH¢520 million in new liabilities, based on diesel consumption of approximately 260 million litres per month.

He said this could push total obligations owed to the NPA above GH¢1 billion.

"It is not the government of Ghana. It is going to sit in the books of NPA. But it is for regulatory activities. It's for service providers in the value chain," he said.

The analyst warned that the financial burden could eventually affect consumers if future fuel price adjustments are used to recover the accumulated debt.

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He suggested that the government could have considered other financing options, including using additional revenue from crude oil price increases or reviewing petroleum stabilisation measures, instead of relying on sector margins.

While acknowledging the importance of reducing fuel costs for consumers, he said such interventions must be designed in a way that avoids creating new financial challenges for the petroleum sector.

DR/MA