NPA inaugurates 16-Member committee to develop regulatory framework for Bitumen Industry

The committee has been tasked with formulating policies and regulations to govern the quality, handling, and utilisation of bitumen in the country’s road construction sector.

According to the NPA, despite the strategic role of bitumen in the construction and maintenance of road infrastructure, the industry currently operates without a dedicated regulatory framework covering critical areas such as importation, storage, transportation, distribution, and quality assurance.

To address this gap, the newly inaugurated committee will work towards establishing standards and regulatory guidelines to ensure effective oversight of the sector.

The committee will be chaired by Abass Tasunti, Director of Economic Regulation and Planning at the NPA, while Bridgette A. Turkson, Acting Director of the Authority’s Licensing Directorate, will serve as Co-Chair.

Membership comprises representatives from several NPA directorates, including Quality Assurance, Licensing, Inspections Monitoring, Health, Safety and Environment (HSE), and Economic Regulation and Planning. The committee also includes officials from the Ghana Highways Authority, Ghana Standards Authority, Ghana Revenue Authority, and the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Mr. Tameklo described the formation of the committee as a significant step toward strengthening regulation and improving standards within the bitumen industry.

He noted that the committee’s work would help ensure that both locally produced and imported bitumen meet established quality requirements, thereby supporting the delivery of durable, safe, and reliable road infrastructure across the country.

“The establishment of this committee reflects our commitment to ensuring that products used in road construction meet the highest quality standards and contribute to the development of resilient infrastructure,” he stated.

Mr. Tameklo further emphasized the importance of collaboration among industry stakeholders in developing a regulatory regime that promotes quality assurance, operational efficiency, and public confidence in the sector.

The committee is expected to engage relevant stakeholders, conduct consultations, and develop recommendations that will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive regulatory framework for Ghana’s bitumen industry.

The initiative forms part of broader efforts by the NPA to strengthen regulation within the downstream petroleum sector and ensure that critical products used in national development projects comply with internationally accepted standards.