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Smart casual with afro hairstyle: How fuel attendants in the 1970s showed up for work

The oil and gas industry in Ghana has long played a vital role in providing commodities for many consumers of petroleum products such as gasoline and diesel.

In 1960, Ghana established an oil company named AGIP Ghana Company Limited, which initially produced fossil fuel products such as fuel, propane and butane, asphalt, and lubricants.

The shareholders of the company were AGIP SPA of Italy and SNAM S.P.A.

On December 16, 1968, SNAM S.P.A. transferred its 10 percent shareholding representing 95,000 shares to Hydrocarbons International Holdings of Zurich, Switzerland.

The company thrived until the government of Ghana in 1974 acquired 100 percent shares of AGIP SPA and Hydrocarbons International Holdings in AGIP Ghana Company Limited and by a special resolution changed its name from AGIP to Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) in 1976.

Now in 2024, a rare image of how an AGIP fuel station looked back in the 1970s has surfaced on social media.

Notable is the unique attire that attendants at the fuel station wore to serve customers trooping in.

Clad in unique jumpsuits to sell the brand AGIP, one fuel attendant was seen with an afro – a unique hairstyle of most Ghanaians in the colonial and post-colonial eras.

See the image below.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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