A gas tanker traveling from Tema to New Edubiase overturned at a key intersection in Darkuman, near Cable and Wireless, on Friday, September 27.
The exact cause of the incident is still under investigation.
Ghana National Fire Service officers are currently managing the situation by cooling the tanker to minimize any risk of explosion.
Authorities are urging motorists to avoid the area until the tanker is safely cleared from the road.
Starting July 1, 2024, fuel tanker drivers in Ghana will receive suitable remuneration as outlined in the policy framework presented to their employers and regulators.
This agreement resolves the issues that prompted the tanker drivers to strike on Tuesday, May 21.
Francis M.K. Sallah, the Deputy General Secretary of the General Transport Drivers and Chemical Workers Union of the TUC, announced this development.
He further stated that all stakeholders have agreed to the modalities outlined in the framework.
“We met on the document because other stakeholders involved indicated that there are other portions in the document that need a bit of clarity. We have cleared many of the doubts in the document. Inclusive of it is employer-employee relationships.
“That must be adhered to. We would finish this and ensure that parties are clear on all aspects. And then by the end of June, all data of the tanker operators and their assistants would be captured.
“That is before the end of June, to ensure that effective 1st July, all the tanker operators and their assistants will receive their monthly salaries and other allowances that is required.”
The Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMC) has announced plans to convene a crucial meeting with the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (GNPTDU) today in order to prevent a potential shortage of petroleum products in the market.
The union declared a strike on Monday, May 19, 2024, citing dissatisfaction with their remuneration.
In an interview with Joy Business, Dr. Riverson Oppong, the Chief Executive Officer of the AOMC, revealed that some service stations are already facing stock shortages.
He emphasized that the association is taking proactive measures by holding discussions with both the vehicle owners and the tanker drivers today.
“We are going to sit down with the tanker union. We will meet both the owners and the drivers to make sure that we come to a consensus as on how to go about it”, he said.
Dr. Oppong denied assertions that the oil marketing corporations don’t care about drivers’ conditions.
“I don’t want people to think that we don’t care about the drivers. We care about the drivers. We do care about our drivers. We are against the fact that some of our members are owing the tanker owners who in turn also owe the drivers”.
According to him, the discussion will result in a constructive proposal that would aid in putting an end to the strike.
AOMC express fear of fuel shortage
The AOMC previously voiced profound concern over the strike initiated by the GNPTDU concerning the proposed remuneration framework for Drivers and Mates.
It cautioned that if the deadlock is not swiftly resolved, it could escalate into a severe crisis, potentially leading to fuel shortages.
The association noted its ongoing efforts to address the GNPTDU’s grievances, recognizing the pivotal role tanker drivers play in the petroleum supply chain.
“However, repeated efforts by the AOMC to engage with the leadership of GNPTDU to address their concerns have unfortunately been unsuccessful. The extensive efforts made to amicably address the issues, including seeking the intervention of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) have been unsuccessful”, a statement signed by the Chief Executive of the AOMC, Dr. Riverson Oppong said earlier.
It explained that AOMC members, who operate a significant portion of the tanker fleet are heavily reliant on the drivers.
“Therefore, if the remuneration issue remains unresolved, a strike action could disproportionally impact our members who own and operate about 50% of the country’s tankers. The scenario could compel them to defect from the Drivers Union altogether”, it said.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has warned of an impending fuel shortage if the concerns of the striking Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union are not urgently addressed.
COPEC contends that failure by the relevant authorities to resolve the drivers’ issues will result in dire consequences.
Members of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union declared an indefinite sit-down strike on Tuesday, May 21, demanding improved conditions of service.
Commenting on the strike, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, stated that if the strike lasts for 72 hours, petroleum consumers may soon have to queue at fuel pumps for the product.
“The oil marketing companies cannot get you the products without those tanker drivers and what that adds to the woes of the Ghanaian is that if that strike is not called off within the next 48 to 72 hours, we may soon have to queue to get fuel because the supply at the various fuel stations is likely to run out.”