Petrol tanker drivers to strike in protest against NPA to address some concerns with the loading and discharging manual for Bulk Vehicle Operators.
The Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union (GNPTDU), has announced it will embark on a nationwide strike starting today [Monday], in protest of government’s inability to address some concerns with the loading and discharging manual for Bulk Vehicle Operators.
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The union had previously complained about the failure of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and the Energy Ministry to implement the loading and discharging manual for Bulk Vehicle Operators.
The union backed down from strike threats in May, after the NPA promised some dialogue.
But in an interview with Citi News, the National Chairman of the Union, George Yaunu, said that no meeting with the NPA.
“What the NPA is supposed to give them [the dealers] has not been given to them to pay us. We can say clearly that the NPA is not fair to us the drivers. The government has approved. It is there. But some people are sitting on it. That is why we said no, enough is enough. We cannot be under a slave trade anymore.”
Mr. Yaunu, however stressed that this strike was not being done to attack the government.
“We are not sabotaging the government; not at all. The government has given a directive to somebody to make sure they treat us fairly. So the government has played its part but the person who is representing the government to do the right things is not doing the right thing.”
The new manual, which is a guideline for professional standards in the transportation of petroleum product, is in accordance with international best practices to eliminate the potential dangers associated with petroleum products.
The drivers say the failure to enforce this is making fuel purchasing companies employ unknown mechanisms to trade.
They fear the current state of affairs may cripple their business.
By: citinewsroom
