The impact of COVID-19 on oil marketing companies (OMCS): A study in the ga west municipality of the Greater Accra region of Ghana

Abstract

This study sought to examine the impact of COVID-19 on Oil Marketing Companies in the Ga West Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. The study employed the mixed method approach as the main research approach, and the sequential explanatory design as the main research design. Through quantitative and qualitative data, the study demonstrated that indeed COVID-19 had several effects on oil retail outlets in the municipality. The study established that COVID-19 negatively impacted oil marketing outlets, affecting customer inflow, overall sales, operations, workers, interpersonal contact, financial flow among others, and positively improved sanitary conditions, personal hygiene and reduced congestion at heavily packed fuel stations. Also, measures put in place to sustain OMCs in the face of COVID- 19 were purely self-help and not government intervention in the Ga west Municipality. It was recommended that the government of Ghana should offer some form of support to the OMCs in case any pandemic of this nature pops up in the near future. This will help release the burden of patronizing PPEs and other materials by the OMCs. Also, Staff members are encouraged to perform hand hygiene frequently, follow respiratory etiquette recommendations and regularly clean and disinfect surfaces at the work area, mainly office and forecourts. The study further recommended that there should be extension of the period of tax payment by Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in case any pandemic of this nature pops up in the future to help relieve some financial burden from the OMCs.