The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) and the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD) have issued a scathing condemnation of the government’s alleged illegal redirection of the LPG Fund to the Ghana Cylinder Manufacturing Company (GCMC).
Describing the move as a “flagrant breach of statutory mandate” and “institutional pilferage,” the two major industry bodies have signaled that nationwide strike action is now imminent.
A Statutory Violation: The Misuse of the LPG Fund
The LPG Fund was established under strict legal frameworks (LI 2262 and LI 2481) with specific, non-negotiable mandates to modernize Ghana’s energy infrastructure. The diverted funds were legally earmarked for:
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LPG Bottling Plants: Financing the nationwide construction and operation of safe bottling facilities.
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Cylinder Recirculation Model (CRM): Funding the rollout of safe, efficient LPG distribution.
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Safety Infrastructure: Managing the withdrawal and replacement of lethal, damaged cylinders from Ghanaian homes.
By redirecting this capital to GCMC, COMAC and CBOD argue that the government has transformed a vital safety fund into a “discretionary slush account,” effectively sabotaging national energy policy.
The Human and Economic Cost
The Chambers warn that this financial mismanagement carries life-or-death consequences for the public and catastrophic risks for the economy:
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Public Safety at Risk: Diverting funds away from the CRM rollout means lethal cylinders remain in circulation, placing lives in immediate danger.
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Investment Collapse: Private operators who invested billions based on government guarantees now face financial ruin.
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Job Losses: Thousands of livelihoods across the downstream value chain are now jeopardized.
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Consumer Exploitation: Households can expect higher prices, supply shortages, and continued safety hazards.
Non-Negotiable Demands
Industry leaders have issued a clear ultimatum to the government. To avoid a total sector shutdown, the following actions must be taken immediately:
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Immediate Cessation: Stop all disbursements from the LPG Fund to GCMC.
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Full Reversal: Restore all diverted funds to their lawful, statutory purposes.
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Statutory Reaffirmation: Publicly confirm that the fund will only be used for bottling plants, CRM, and cylinder safety.
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Radical Transparency: Implement quarterly public reporting and independent audits of the fund.
“The Choice Before Government”
The leadership of COMAC and CBOD—Dr. Riverson Oppong and Dr. Patrick Ofori—have made it clear that they will no longer remain passive while statutory protections are “shredded.”
If the government does not act to restore fund integrity and uphold the rule of law, the industry is prepared to pursue every legal and industrial avenue available to protect its interests. The energy security of Ghana now hangs in the balance.
