Tanker drivers in the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo and Western North Regions have begun a three-day sit-down strike over alleged inaccuracies in fuel measuring meters installed at the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST) depot in Kumasi.
The drivers claim the meters have repeatedly failed internal checks conducted by transporters and other stakeholders, resulting in fuel shortages for which they say they are being held financially responsible.
Vice Chairman of the Association, Dominic Brenya, said several exercises involving transporters, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and tanker unions had shown discrepancies in the measurements.
“We have done exercises with transporters, the National Petroleum Authority and tanker unions which have shown that no one siphons fuel, but the measuring machines proved otherwise,” he said.
Mr Brenya said the situation was causing significant financial losses to drivers, despite the use of modern technologies to monitor the movement of tankers and fuel.
According to him, the drivers suspect that the measuring system at the offloading point is either faulty or improperly calibrated.
The drivers are therefore calling on BOST, the NPA and the government to urgently investigate the matter and resolve the problem.
Concerns over loading and parking facilities
The association also raised concerns about challenges with the loading system at the Kumasi depot.
The drivers said inadequate loading facilities often result in long delays, leaving them stranded for extended periods while waiting to load their trucks.
They also complained about inadequate parking space at the depot, forcing drivers to park their fuel tankers on the shoulders of the road.
They said the situation poses a serious safety risk to other road users because the trucks transport highly flammable petroleum products.
Drivers who manage to secure parking spaces provided by BOST also complained that the area is largely untarred and unsuitable for use.
They are therefore demanding proper parking and sleeping facilities to improve their safety and welfare while waiting to load.
The drivers have vowed to maintain the three-day sit-down strike until their concerns are addressed by BOST, the NPA and the government.
Management of BOST Kumasi declined to comment on the concerns raised by the drivers.
The association warned that a prolonged industrial action could affect the distribution of petroleum products and potentially lead to shortages at fuel stations.
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