Tanker drivers across the country could put their tools down if their grievances are not addressed.
Chairman of Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, George Nyaunu tells Adom News’ Kwame Yankah that their decision comes three years after waiting in vain for their office destroyed by Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation(BOST) Ltd on the Accra Plain Depot at Tema to be rebuilt.
“We are just fed up with BOST and the way and manner it is dealing with us. We are humans just like any member of the company and must be respected as such” he angrily said.
According to him, the demolished structure served as a national office and a major operational outlet but was “illegally” demolished by management of the company without any recourse to the union.
He said the temporary relocation of the union started when Mr. Addo Yobo was then Managing Director where the company mutually agreed with the union to relocate to the parking lot pending the construction of a permanent facility for drivers and their mates who haul petroleum products across the country.
George Nyaunu indicated that this was carried out smoothly without affecting the construction of new tanks at Kumasi, Buipe and Accra Plain depots.
Two drivers were reportedly knocked down by speeding vehicles as they crossed the highway to ease themselves since there was no place of convenience for them, making life quite unbearable.
He alleged that the current management led by Kwame Awuah Darko has failed to honour his promise of rebuilding the facility for the drivers and are calling on President John Mahama to intervene.
One other issue that has drawn the fury of tanker drivers is the use of flow meter as a means of measurement before discharging fuel at any depot.
The new directive demands that any driver who is ready to discharge through flow meter at Kumasi depot must take a note from his master (Transporter).
“We have challenges with the flow meter. More often than not, there are shortages when discharging with it. When it happens this way, the driver has no salary at the end of the month simply because the shortage is deducted from the transporter’s claim and he debits the driver at the end of the month,”he said.
According to him, they are demanding that transporters give them a note indicating that such shortages will not go against the drivers but the transporters are not ready to buy into this idea.
The tanker drivers insist on the use of T bar in measuring the quantity of fuel before discharging at any depot.
They have accused Bernard Owusu, who doubles as Parking lot Supervisor at BOST and Chairman of General Transport, Petroleum Chemical Workers Union of being an impediment in their way.
Meanwhile, Benard Owusu has denied any personal interest in this whole brouhaha.
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