By Daniel Bampoe
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has strongly refuted media reports suggesting that the Auditor-General uncovered a GH¢78.6 million scandal within the Authority, insisting that the Performance Audit Report does not establish any financial loss, revenue loss, corruption or financial misappropriation on its part.
In a statement issued by its Corporate Affairs Directorate on Monday, July 20, 2026, the Authority said it had taken notice of media publications commenting on the Auditor-General’s Performance Audit Report on the operations of the NPA covering the period 2023 to 2025, but argued that some of the reports misrepresented the actual findings contained in the audit.
According to the NPA, contrary to headlines portraying the report as exposing “rot” and financial scandal, the Auditor-General’s report did not conclude that the Authority had suffered financial losses or that public funds had been misappropriated.
“The Auditor-General’s report does not establish any financial loss or revenue loss to the National Petroleum Authority,” the statement emphasized.
The Authority further stated that media descriptions suggesting corruption, “rot” or financial mismanagement were not findings contained in the Auditor-General’s Performance Audit Report, adding that one publication also failed to include management’s official responses to the audit observations.
Background To The Audit Report
The clarification follows widespread media reports on the Auditor-General’s Performance Audit Report dated June 24, 2026, which examined the operations of the National Petroleum Authority between 2023 and 2025.
Several media outlets interpreted the report as exposing widespread regulatory weaknesses within the downstream petroleum sector, including issues related to the implementation of the fuel marking programme, monitoring of petroleum distribution, enforcement of Bulk Road Vehicle regulations, and payments associated with fuel marking services.
Among the issues highlighted in the audit were the distribution of petroleum products that had not been marked under the Uniform Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), weaknesses in tracking some petroleum products, the diversion of petroleum products without the application of statutory sanctions and licensing challenges involving Bulk Road Vehicles transporting fuel across the country.
Some reports subsequently described the findings as amounting to a GH¢78.6 million scandal, prompting the Authority’s official response.
NPA Defends Its Record
The NPA maintained that while the audit contained operational observations and recommendations intended to improve regulatory processes, those findings should not be interpreted as evidence of corruption or financial misappropriation.
The Authority explained that performance audits are designed to assess operational efficiency, regulatory effectiveness and institutional systems, rather than to establish criminal liability or determine financial misconduct unless specifically stated.
According to the NPA, portraying the report as proof of financial scandal creates an inaccurate public impression of the Authority’s work and overlooks management’s explanations provided during the audit process.
The Authority therefore urged media organisations and the general public to rely on the official contents of the Auditor-General’s report rather than interpretations that go beyond its stated findings.
According to the statement, management will continue to engage constructively with the Audit Service and implement the recommendations contained in the report to improve regulatory oversight, operational efficiency and consumer protection within the downstream petroleum sector.
The Authority noted that continuous institutional improvement remains one of its priorities as it seeks to enhance the regulation of the petroleum industry and ensure that consumers continue to receive quality petroleum products.
Call For Responsible Reporting
The National Petroleum Authority also appealed to the public to rely only on official communications issued by the Authority regarding the audit findings.
It maintained that accurate reporting of public audit reports is essential to preserving public confidence in state institutions and ensuring that recommendations for institutional improvement are not misconstrued as findings of criminal wrongdoing.
