The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has officially opened its 2026 Safety Week, with a renewed call for proactive risk management across Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Board Chairman Gabriel Kumi emphasised that safety must be treated as a shared national responsibility rather than a departmental obligation. He noted that the industry’s commitment to managing risks before they escalate into incidents forms the cornerstone of COMAC’s strategic focus for 2026.
Mr. Kumi described COMAC Safety Week as one of the most influential events on Ghana’s energy calendar, highlighting its evolution into a platform for critical reflection, knowledge sharing, and industry-wide commitment to safety standards.
“This platform has grown beyond an annual event into a living institution dedicated to protecting lives, preserving the environment, and elevating operational standards across the sector,” he stated.
This year’s celebration is being held under the theme, “Managing Risk Before It Becomes an Incident,” which Mr. Kumi described as both timely and essential. He stressed that in an industry dealing with volatile petroleum products, the consequences of complacency extend beyond financial losses to include threats to human lives, livelihoods, and public trust.
He underscored that proactive risk management is not only a best practice but a moral obligation for all stakeholders within the sector.
The four-day event, scheduled from April 7 to 10, 2026, will feature keynote addresses, high-level panel discussions, technical training sessions, live safety demonstrations, and practical forecourt safety exercises.
Participants have been encouraged to actively engage in discussions, challenge existing practices, and adopt stronger safety measures that will enhance vigilance and operational resilience across the industry.
Mr. Kumi urged stakeholders to leave the conference not merely as observers, but as agents of change committed to ensuring that every worker returns home safely and that communities hosting petroleum operations are adequately protected.
He expressed optimism that the outcomes of the event would reinforce industry-wide commitment to safety and mark a decisive step toward eliminating preventable incidents in Ghana’s petroleum sector.
EnergyCrossroad.com is a media partner for this year’s COMAC Safety Week
