Tanker drivers numbering about five hundred in Tema embarked on a sit-down strike on Monday asking their owners and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to ensure that a memorandum of understanding that was signed in July 2017 is implemented.
According to the drivers, the agreement signed between the three parties, which included the National Petroleum Authority, the Tanker Owners Association and Tanker Drivers Union, was meant to resolve the challenges of salary, travel allowance, per diem and underground shortages at the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation, BOST.
According to the drivers, several months after the said agreement was signed, its implementation has become a problem hence their action.
The drivers on Monday morning instead of going to load their tanker trucks took to the car park of the Tema oil refinery to stage a peaceful sit-down strike.
“We are not going to relent on our action and we know there will soon be shortages at the pumps, but we shall press on until our concerns are addressed” they noted.
The drivers among other things blamed the Chief Executive of NPA, Hassan Tampuli for their woes.
The Chairman of the drivers union, George Teye Nyaunu accused Mr. Tampuli of forming a rivalry Driver’s Association to thwart the efforts of drivers for demanding what was due them.
“I have evidence of Mr. Hassan Tampuli giving money to some people to form a rivalry association to always counter us and thwart our efforts but at the right time I will come out” he noted
The drivers expressed concern that the lack of the implementation of the agreement by the NPA continues to affect their livelihoods as they are unable to pay their bills due to poor salaries.
They lament that whilst some of the transporters continue to pay the basic salary and road expenses but not what was captured in the agreements, others do not pay at all.
However, during mid-day, the almost peaceful strike took a different twist as soon as the police were invited to ensure order, and also prevent the striking drivers from getting closer to the Tema Oil refinery.
There was almost a chaotic scene as drivers clashed with the police who had attempted to use force to compel them to move further from the refinery car park.
This infuriated the drivers, causing the police to fire tear gas directly into the crowd to disperse them.
The police numbering about 50 were pelted with stones as the drivers also smashed the windscreens of cars within the TOR car park.
About five people were also injured as a result of the tear gas and rubber bullets fired into the crowd.
The Tema Regional Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Joseph Benefo Darkwah noted that the police only used minimum force to disperse the drivers from getting closer to the refinery which is a national asset.
“The reason we fired the tear gas is to ensure that the drivers who were getting agitated are prevented from getting closer to the refinery. This is a national asset and it must be protected” he noted
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Source: Citinewsroom.com
