In 2017, when Hassan Tampuli assumed the position of Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), the regulator of the country’s petroleum downstream, his hope is to become the institution’s ‘Chief Servant’.
In that role, he will, from time to time, leave behind the comfort of his chair, roll up his sleeves, head to the field so he could have a taste of what his colleagues and subordinates do on the field.
And true to his words, he has made it part of his itinerary to join inspectors on their field trips to undertake assignments at filling stations across the country. Then there are others, which include checks at some of the country’s borders to ensure fuel products marked for export are duly and strictly sent out of Ghana.
In August last year, ahead of an event in Cape Coast, Mr. Tampuli openly joined the rest of the team from the Consumer Department of the Authority to sensitize consumers of LPG products on the need to observe safety protocols that could help eliminate the incidence of fire outbreaks and explosions.
For those who have been in the business for decades, the petroleum sector offers an uncertain wave of burden, especially in moments when the dark forces involved decide to combine their schemes to undermine existing structures that rake in financial rewards for the country.
But Mr. Tampuli, a lawyer by profession, has also not been resting, as he continues to work with other sector agencies to thwart the efforts of these illegal fuel smugglers. An attestation to the effort is a recent news article which captured an infographic of arrests of illegal fuel smugglers and the millions of savings made to the coffers of the state.
Mr. Tampuli has not hidden his secret to ensure protection is given to the businesses of genuine players in the industry by exposing the fraudulent ones desperately trying to undermine the decency of the operations.
Speaking to journalists in an interview during one of his field operations to inspect works on a then broken Loading Arm of the Oil Jetty, Mr. Tampuli said if the bad guy have learnt to fly without perching, they, the Authority, have learnt to shoot without missing. He did not mince words when he said the security agencies will come after such persons in order for sanity to prevail in the industry.
A very affable personality who makes sure those around him are at ease, he makes it a point to keep an open door policy where the lowest within the ranks of the organization can freely approach him and have a touch. He is a strong believer in the potential of everyone at the Authority and irrespective of the status, he holds the view that the contributions of the collective make the NPA stronger in terms of its goals and objectives.
In his early 40s, Mr. Tampuli, who supervises a hardworking team of directors, managers and more, is a trained lawyer.
He has never shied away from acknowledging the wealth of expertise from different fields available to him at the Authority and at the least chance when the opportunity presents itself, he tells the world how invaluable each person’s contribution has been to making the NPA, a state agency with private sector features, one of the most thriving agencies in the country.
Together with his team, they are working out the modalities for the roll-out of the Cylinder Recirculation Model, a Cabinet approved policy in 2017, to help address the incidence of gas explosions that had taken lives and disfigured many others, compelling them to adopt a secluded lifestyles.
He has so far led his team to meet with the Council of State and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who advised him to collaborate with other sector agencies to ensure the best is plans and programs are implemented for the growth of the society.
A former student of the famous Tamale Secondary School, he studied for his LLB at the University of Ghana and later proceeded to the Ghana Law School, Makola, where he was successfully called to the bar.
He subsequently worked at Bentsil Enchill, Letsa and Ankomah’s Energy and Natural Resources Practice Group as an Associate. It was here that he roiled his hands into the legal skills in oil and gas related cases. He later became a co-founder of the Accra based Corporate Law firm, East-bridge Associates.
Mr. Tampuli did his advanced studies in Energy and Environmental Law at the Ohio State University’s Moritz College of Law in the United States. An avid consumer of social media products, Mr. Tampuli is also a sports enthusiast and supports Chelsea Football Club in England.