Tanker Drivers Demonstrate Over Unfair Treatment

The Western and Central Regional office of the Ghana Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union on Wednesday demonstrated against what they said was �unfair treatment� being meted out to them by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on the transportation of diesel products. The demonstrators blocked the road to the offices of Good Energy to express their anger. Mr. Kwame Bobbie Ansah, Chairman of the Union, told the GNA that the over 20 oil marketing companies employing about 145 people in these two regions are gradually losing their daily bread since the NPA had prevented the lifting of petroleum products particularly diesel from the Takoradi depot for five months now. He said NPA claimed the government had not paid its debt to them hence the decision to stop them from lifting but mining companies continue to lift the products in dollars for their daily operations at the detriment of local tanker. Mr. Ansah said letters to the NPA for explanation on their decision had not received any positive response saying, �Officials are only creating unnecessary congestion and delay at the intake point in Tema only for their personal gains.� He said government installation points at Takoradi was gradually losing its glory and becoming white elephant because ofer the activities of �some selfish and unscrupulous characters within the NPA.� Mr. Ekow Essien, the Assistant Secretary, said it was illegal to leave the Takoradi installation depot and go to Tema to load and wondered why such a thing was being encouraged by the NPA.