PETROSOL Ghana Limited, a leading privately-owned Ghanaian Oil Marketing Company(OMC), has received triple International Organization for Standardization (ISO) certification. These are ISO 9001: 2015–Quality Management System; ISO 14001:2015–Environmental Management System and ISO 45001: 2018–Occupational Health & Safety Management.
According Mr. Michael Bozumbil, the Chief Executive Officer of PETROSOL, the certifications are external validation of the company’s relentless efforts over the years at ensuring that its operations are anchored on best practices.
Mr. Bozumbil said this at an event recently held in Accra to present the certificates to its regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and its other key stakeholders.
He explained that what the certifications mean to their customers is that they are additional assurance to them that PETROSOL has put in place internationally accepted systems and processes for procuring, storing, distributing and marketing their fuel and lubricants that help in ensuring that their customers receive clean fuel in full quantity and in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner.
Mr. Bozumbil further indicated that these certifications demonstrate PETROSOL’s high commitment to regulatory compliance and continuous improvement since it has gone beyond meeting local regulatory requirements to the level of meeting international standards.
He also indicated that the certifications also give additional assurance to government that PETROSOL sources its petroleum products through legitimate means and paying the required taxes to the state. He said between 2014 and 2020, PETROSOL paid GH¢568Million as petroleum taxes to the state, emphasizing it would continue to be a good corporate citizen and thus requested for the support of government so that the company could do more for the state.
Mr. Bozumbil also used the occasion to urge the general public to welcome PETROSOL stations into their communities since by this international certification, it is clear that the company puts in place the right systems to ensure its operations do not endanger lives and property and that the environment is also protected.
He commended the PETROSOL team, made up of its management, staff as well as its dealers for their loyalty and hard work culminating in the certification and encouraged them to see it as a morale booster for them to work harder and continuously excel. “As I have always told you, excellence has no nationality. Therefore, always aim to excel at the international level, notwithstanding the challenges we face in Ghana”, Mr. Bozumbil admonished his team.
He also commended their regulators, bankers, suppliers, the general public and the media for their support over the years.
Meanwhile, Madam Maria Oquaye, the Director of Corporate Affairs of the National Petroleum Authority, who received the certificates on behalf of the NPA, commended PETROSOL for such an outstanding achievement and challenged other companies in the industry to emulate the example set by PETROSOL in order to rid the industry of health and safety risks. She went on further to say that the NPA would do their best to ensure that other companies follow this example so that the ultimate beneficiary, the consumer, gets value for money at every fuel station visited.
She further admonished PETROSOL to continue to ensure that the consumer benefits from their improved standards and encouraged the company to work hand-in-hand with the NPA to ensure that malpractices in the industry were curtailed.
The Executive Secretary of Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) Ghana, Mr. Duncan Amoah, in his remarks as the Chairman of the occasion, was full of paise for PETROSOL for the remarkable achievement. He said though COPEC receives complaints from petroleum consumers regarding poor quality of fuel or cheating at the pumps at some fuel stations, there has not been a single complaint received with respect to any PETROSOL station. He therefore indicated that COPEC was not surprised when it received news about PETROSOL’s triple ISO certification because it has consistently demonstrated compliance and ethical business practice.
Mr. Senyo Hosi, CEO of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (CBOD), was delighted to see an indigenous oil marketing company raising the standards so high and said Ghanaians were capable of excelling, given the opportunity and the support. He encouraged PETROSOL to continue on the path of excellence.
Other key personalities that were at the event to lend their support to PETROSOL were Mr. Seth Twum-Akwaboah, CEO of Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Mr. Farid Antar, Managing Director of Republic Bank (Ghana) Plc and Mrs. Gauri Bhagwat, Managing Director of Syscon Consulting Ltd. There were also representatives from the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce & Industries and the Ghana Employers’ Association.
