The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) and the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) have condemned what they describe as the unlawful diversion of funds from the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Fund to the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC), warning that strike action is imminent if the move is not reversed.
In a joint press release issued on February 18, 2026, in Accra, the two industry bodies said they were “appalled” by the alleged redirection of the funds, describing it as a serious breach of statutory mandate and a betrayal of public trust.
“This action constitutes a flagrant breach of statutory mandate, a dangerous sabotage of national energy policy, and an unacceptable betrayal of public trust,” the statement read. “This alleged move is a blatant deviation from the fund’s original purpose.”
According to COMAC and CBOD, the LPG Fund was established under Legislative Instruments LI 2262 (amended) and LI 2481, and implemented by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on April 1, 2024, with three clear and legally binding objectives.
These include a USD 44 per metric tonne Bottling Plant Margin to finance the construction and operation of LPG bottling plants nationwide, and a USD 36 per metric tonne Cylinder Investment Margin to fund the rollout of the Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM) for safe and efficient LPG distribution.
The groups stressed that the objectives of the fund are not subject to discretionary interpretation.
“These purposes are non-negotiable. The fund was never intended as discretionary capital for ad hoc allocations,” the statement emphasized. “Redirecting it to GCMC is not administrative flexibility—it is a statutory violation that demolishes the foundation of Ghana’s LPG safety and infrastructure framework.”
They warned that diverting resources away from bottling plant development and CRM implementation undermines efforts to improve accessibility and safety within the LPG sector. The CRM policy, which seeks to remove unsafe cylinders from circulation and ensure safe replacement, is a central pillar of Ghana’s LPG reform strategy.
“By channeling funds away from bottling plant development, CRM implementation, and unsafe cylinder withdrawal, government is actively choosing GCMC’s financial convenience over a holistic mission to increase accessibility of LPG; remove lethal cylinders from circulation; and ensure safe replacement,” the release stated.
Beyond safety concerns, the industry groups cautioned that the move could have far-reaching economic consequences.
Describing the situation as “economic devastation beyond the industry,” they said the alleged misappropriation threatens private investment and jobs across the downstream petroleum value chain.
“Destruction of private investment – Legitimate operators who invested billions based on government’s statutory commitments now face collapse,” the statement warned. It further highlighted the “Elimination of jobs – Thousands of livelihoods across the downstream value chain are jeopardized.”
COMAC and CBOD did not specify a timeline for the intended strike action but indicated that industry players are prepared to take decisive steps to defend the integrity of the LPG Fund and the broader reform agenda.
The groups are calling on government and relevant authorities to immediately halt any diversion of the fund and strictly adhere to its legal mandate.
