Petroleum tanker drivers have threatened to withdraw their services starting Monday until the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) addresses their concerns.
The drivers have raised concerns about their working conditions and welfare, which they say have been ignored for many months now.
According to them, the only reason for them to return to work was for the NPA to ensure the full implementation of the Petroleum Producers Transportation Delivery Retail and Loss Control manual, which was formulated by the Energy Commission in 2004.
They have explained that not implementing the guidelines stipulated in the manual was having dire consequences on them, as their salaries and remunerations are not paid by transporters.
In a letter dated May 9, 2018, to the Ministry of Energy, the drivers urged government to ensure that all filling stations implement the guidelines; and gave an ultimatum following which will not move their vehicles.
“In our meeting with the President at the Jubilee House on August 16, 2017, we were directed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to meet you [Minister] to resolve the underground shortage delivery at filling stations and also the flow metre used at Bulk Oil Storage Transport (BOST).
“Secondly, as regards our salary and remuneration, Mr. Minister, several letters had been sent to your office without response. We hereby give you an ultimatum of seven days to address our grievances, else we’ll advise ourselves.” the later stated.
The Ministry in response directed the NPA to ensure that the concerns of the drivers are addressed.
But in a radio interview with Accra based Joy FM, Chairman of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, Mr George Teye Nyauno said the directive is yet to be implemented.
He noted that tanker drivers in the country are being treated unfairly. “We are not under slave trade in this country again. So I don’t see why tanker drivers should be treated unfairly. That is why we think this is the time for us to put our tools down quietly and let’s see whether petroleum will flow to the nation”.
“... because we respect them so much, they have taken us for granted so enough is enough. What I am saying is from Monday, the action that they are going to see from Monday, will not be like the previous one again”.
He added that they are being cheated although they are ready to serve the nation, “so whenever they are coming to us, they should make sure they are coming to us with what we have agreed. We are ready to serve the nation but they are cheating us”
Source: Graphic.com
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Are there no drivers looking for job! if there are why don't the authorities accept applications and interviews to employ those who qualify to drive tankers! this is not a big deal,just sack them if they sit down they are saboteurs of this government and who cares what ndc will say, if 600 go let 700 come that's all! Listen, the late President Reagan sacked all American pilots who staged sit down demonstration and brought airforce officers that very day to take all passengers to their destinations and that was the end of the pilots who demonstrated, he said if grievances can't be jaw jaw but rather sabotaging the American people then you don't have any business being a pilot on their planes and that was it. FIRE THEM if they think sitting down will solve their problems. Listen, some of these guys are working against the government for the ndc to look good but let them know that their numbers are few. the majority of Ghanaians know and believe the government has good intentions about them but ndc are rather pulling the progress and prosperity of the country back, but they will never succeed. The good people know this hardship are shocks from ndc mismanagement and create l000**000t and share government which was insensitive and wicked to Ghanaians but of all these Ghana will succeed, no amount of voodoo and juju ndc have brought to make things difficult they will never win, the unseen hand above is in control! Once upon a time,over 3 thousand years ago a man of God prayed to the Lord, waited several times and there was no answer to his prayers and demand from God, he continued praying not knowing the angel who was bringing down his answers had been hijacked in the middle of his journey to the earth by authorities, principalities and forces above and when the Lord found what was happening he sent his angel Gabriel and others to help that angel (Micheal) to fight those authorities and after they've been defeated the man of God got his answers and the same will happen to Ghana! Ndc think they are winning, they think in their spiritual realm John mahama has conquered but wait a minute! the force and power that is coming from the Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Isreal) will end the reign of the ndc. John mahama will never again become the president of Ghana, those spirits can never conquer Ghana to put him on the presidency! he can waste all those millions of dollars just because of power, but , it will never work in his favour ! remember the Islamic scholar said ndc will win but need very hard work, then said the NPP should never give up which means the NPP is still on top, and then he went on to say this prediction is not from God! so, I knew right away those spirits ndc have consulted are trying and deceiving them but will fail because the Lord hasn't spoken about them and the cleric knows, the ndc victory calling is not from God and will crush in 2020. THE BATTLE IS STILL THE LORD'S!
Stup!d association... why wait for 14 long years before deciding to go on aluta? you guys are not serious. You can go and burn the sea.