Ghana’s downstream petroleum market is bracing for higher pump prices after the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announced a fresh upward adjustment in the minimum selling prices for fuel products under the second pricing window of February 2026.
The revised benchmarks will apply from February 16 to February 28, 2026, and set mandatory base prices below which no operator is allowed to trade.
Under the new directive, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) are prohibited from selling petrol for less than GH¢10.24 per litre — up from the previous floor of GH¢9.99 recorded in the first pricing window of the month.
Diesel has also seen a notable increase, with the minimum ex-pump price climbing from GH¢10.95 to GH¢11.34 per litre over the same period.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) has not been spared, as the price floor has been raised to GH¢9.43 per kilogram, compelling LPG Marketing Companies (LPGMCs) to adjust accordingly.
The directive effectively compels any company currently retailing below the new benchmarks to immediately revise prices upward to remain compliant. Industry observers say this could disrupt competitive pricing strategies, particularly for firms that had hoped to maintain stable prices in a bid to attract customers.
The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies has reiterated the obligation of all OMCs and LPGMCs to strictly adhere to the stipulated minimum thresholds as outlined in the Petroleum Products Pricing Guidelines.
However, the Chamber clarified that the announced price floors do not include premiums imposed by international oil trading firms, operational margins of Bulk Import, Distribution and Export Companies (BIDECs), or the separate margins of marketers and dealers. These additional cost components, it explained, will continue to be determined independently by the respective entities in line with the regulatory framework.
The NPA maintains that the revised pricing structure is grounded in the Petroleum Pricing Guidelines and aims to promote transparency, sustainability, and fairness within the fuel distribution chain. According to the Authority, the intervention is designed to establish a more stable and predictable pricing regime while safeguarding healthy competition.
Officials further disclosed that the move followed consultations with industry stakeholders and was partly triggered by concerns over persistent non-compliance, including what the regulator described as aggressive price undercutting by certain operators.
With the new measures in place, consumers should expect pump prices to trend upward in the coming days as market players align with the mandated floors.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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