Star Oil Limited, a key player in Ghana’s oil marketing industry, has announced its immediate withdrawal from the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC). This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing disputes within the nation’s downstream petroleum sector.
The announcement, made on January 21, 2026, follows Star Oil’s growing frustrations with the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) fuel price floor policy. The company expressed concerns over the implications of this policy on market competition and consumer pricing.
Star Oil has been a longstanding member of COMAC and has contributed substantially to the organization’s finances. However, the company claims that its critical stance regarding the price floor has not been adequately represented by COMAC, leading to their decision to suspend membership.
According to the CEO of Star Oil, the fuel price floor disrupts market dynamics, hindering the ability to adjust local fuel prices in response to international oil rates and foreign exchange fluctuations. This, they argue, diminishes competition and ultimately harms consumers, a sentiment previously echoed by Bulk Distribution Companies that successfully campaigned for the removal of their own price floor.
Star Oil articulated that continuing its association with COMAC under the current conditions poses a reputational risk, as the organization does not provide a fair platform for expressing diverse viewpoints. The company stated, “We consider it prudent to suspend our membership until COMAC demonstrates a commitment to equitable representation and transparent communication.”
The NPA’s price floor policy is designed to establish a minimum selling price for fuel, aimed at protecting smaller businesses and ensuring stability within the petroleum market. While this regulation prevents aggressive pricing strategies, critics like Star Oil argue that it stifles competition and keeps consumer prices inflated.
