The CEO of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Dr Riverson Oppong, has raised serious concerns about the safety of operating fuel stations around the clock, stating that widespread insecurity is thwarting efforts to support Ghana’s proposed 24-hour economy.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Tuesday, 17th June, Dr Oppong disclosed that a number of OMCs have attempted to extend their operations into the night but have been forced to halt due to repeated incidents of armed robbery and theft.

“There have been several attempts by some OMCs to sell fuel in the middle of the night, but robbery and thieves will not allow them to do that. Some of them have been robbed,” he lamented.

He emphasised the severity of the threat, revealing that some robberies occurred as early as 8 or 9 p.m.

“I still have videos of such incidents on my laptop that were shared with me by some of the OMCs. These were even around 8 o’clock, 9 o’clock—not so late—and they entered the stores and actually robbed them,” Dr Oppong stated.

Suggesting a way forward, he proposed that high-traffic urban areas such as Dzorwulu and East Legon could serve as pilot zones for 24-hour service, provided the government steps in to offer robust security support.

“If the government could support us with security measures—get the police to surround the places that have these 24-hour lock-ins—it would form a kind of security around the stations,” he said. “It is very painful to be robbed in the middle of the night and have all sales gone.”

To further minimise risk, Dr Oppong called for investment in automated, self-service fuelling infrastructure, which would limit cash handling and reduce the number of staff required during night shifts.

He warned that without firm security commitments and modernised systems, fuel stations cannot safely align with government ambitions for a round-the-clock economy.

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