The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has commended the Ghana Navy, particularly the Western Naval Command (WNC), for the successful interception and seizure of eight illegal fuel-smuggling boats engaged in illicit bunkering at the New Takoradi and Poase fishing communities.
The commendation came during the destruction of the seized boats at Naval Base Sekondi on Friday, 15 May 2026. The boats were burnt to ashes as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal fuel smuggling activities along the country’s coastline.
The seizure of the boats was carried out during “Operation Don’t Complain,” an anti-illegal fuel smuggling operation conducted on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.
Addressing the media before the destruction exercise, Mr Tamakloe stated that one of the core responsibilities of the NPA was to ensure the availability of quality and non-adulterated petroleum products on the marketHe explained that when fuel products are illegally transported through unapproved routes at sea, it becomes difficult for the Authority to effectively monitor and regulate their quality.
According to him, the NPA operates a fuel marking scheme that enables the Authority to trace and monitor every litre of petroleum product distributed onto the market. However, the illegal transportation of fuel products through locally manufactured boats, popularly known as “dendeys,” posed a major challenge to effective regulation and monitoring. Mr Tamakloe further noted that the activities of illegal fuel smugglers contribute significantly to revenue losses for the country due to tax evasion. He stressed that the destruction of the boats was necessary to send a strong warning to individuals engaged in the illicit trade.
He also commended other stakeholders, including the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Marine Police and National Security, for their collaboration and support towards the successful operation.
