Fuel collection at tanker crash scenes could turn deadly in seconds – Jinapor

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has urged the public to prioritise their safety and refrain from collecting fuel from overturned tankers, warning that the practice could lead to fatal fires and explosions.

He said people who rushed to accident scenes to collect spilt petroleum products were putting their lives at risk, particularly through the possibility of fires and explosions.

Mr Jinapor cautioned that “what looks like an opportunity can become a tragedy in seconds”, urging the public to keep away from such scenes, alert emergency services and allow trained personnel to take control.

Speaking through a representative at the NPA's Consumer Week celebration last week, Mr Jinapor also called on security agencies and emergency response teams to strengthen their collaboration with the Authority to prevent fuel theft, tanker accidents and fires.

He stressed that closer coordination among the relevant institutions was essential to ensuring swift and effective responses to emergencies.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has reminded the public that collecting petroleum products from accident scenes is a criminal offence which could attract up to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

He expressed concern about the practice of people rushing to overturned tankers with buckets, gallons and other containers to collect spilt fuel, despite the serious risks involved.

Mr Tameklo said the Authority launched its Stay Back, Stay Safe campaign in February this year to address the dangerous practice.

The initiative, led by the Authority's Corporate Affairs Directorate in collaboration with its Consumer Services Directorate, seeks to discourage fuel collection at accident scenes and encourage the public to prioritise their safety.

He said previous tanker accidents had demonstrated the devastating consequences of fuel siphoning, resulting in loss of life and leaving families to deal with the aftermath.

Emphasising the need to put human life above material gain, Mr Tameklo said, “No amount of fuel is worth a human life.”

He urged people who witness tanker accidents to alert the Ghana National Fire Service and the Police instead of approaching the scene, stressing that trained emergency personnel must be allowed to secure affected areas and prevent further casualties.

The NPA Chief Executive added that the Authority had been using radio and television programmes, social media, community engagements and visits to lorry parks along major highways to spread the safety message.

He assured the public that the Authority would continue working with relevant institutions and petroleum industry operators to improve safety awareness and promote responsible conduct during petroleum-related emergencies.