LOCATIONAL ANALYSIS OF FUEL STATIONS IN SUNYANI MUNICIPALITY

ABSTRACT Location of fuel stations are regulated by planning principles and standards. However, despite efforts of regulators to ensure that fuel stations are well sited for the safety of lives and properties, entrepreneurs continue to disregard the national standards of siting fuel stations to locate such stations anywhere they find especially in urban areas. This study assessed the locational of fuel stations in Sunyani Municipality. The crosssection research design with mixed method technique was used in this study. In selecting the respondents, cluster and purposive sampling techniques were respectively used for the residents and the regulators. The findings show that an overwhelming majority of the fuel stations are located along the road from Sunyani to Bomso and the stretch from Sunyani to Dormaa. All these fuel stations are mostly setup in and around the Central Business District (CBD) where brisk commercial activities take place. Factors influencing the siting of fuel stations in their present locations were the accessibility of the fuel station to the customers, location’s market sales attractiveness, fuel station’s location closer to other important facilities, sales revenue and SWOT (strengths opportunities and threats). Among these factors, the most influential ones are the accessibility of the fuel station location to customers and location’s market sales attractiveness. The regulators acknowledged that fuel stations bearing brands of major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) follow the laid down procedures based on Ghana National Spatial Development Framework (GNSDF) requirement legally acquire plot of land meant for such purposes. It is recommended that the regulators should work to ensure the thorough compliance of Ghana National Spatial Development Framework requirements by the current and potential fuel stations.