NPA CEO Assures Tanker Drivers of Improved Working Conditions

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, Esq., has assured the Ghana National Petroleum Tankers Drivers Union (GNPTDU) of the Authority’s commitment to addressing concerns over their working conditions and welfare.

Tameklo gave the assurance during an emergency meeting with national executives and members of the GNPTDU at the NPA’s head office on Wednesday.

The meeting followed a series of strike actions by the union, which have since been suspended, over concerns including the deplorable condition of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)-Kpone Road and the deteriorating state of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) yard where tanker drivers park their trucks.

The drivers also raised concerns about oil-loss control measures and the need for allowances for drivers who undertake long journeys on difficult and poorly maintained roads.

Addressing the concerns, Tameklo said the NPA would work with relevant stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the issues raised by the union.

“We are doing all we can to get BOST to agree on these reforms because thankfully when this issue came up, we got a neutral person, which is the Ghana Standards Authority, to stand on the matter and give an unbiased report,” he said.

“Let me assure you that the Authority will do everything possible to get to the bottom of this issue, because it is an industry old matter, so it is something that we will take up to look at how to resolve it,” he added.

The NPA CEO also assured the tanker drivers that the condition of the TOR-Kpone Road remained a major concern for the Authority.

He said he was pushing for the road to be considered under the government’s Big Push infrastructure programme.

“We are looking at different models that we can use to sort this issue. I remember at a point, the Roads Minister suggested that the companies in that vicinity should contribute to fix the road and that last model was to include it in the Big Push, so that we can tow the place,” Tameklo said.

“I want to assure you that I am pushing strongly for the road to be placed under the ‘Big Push’ project. It is of major concern to us, because we have done so much in the downstream industry but this road deducts our mark,” he stressed.

For his part, the National Chairman of the GNPTDU, George Nyaunu, apologised to the NPA for the union’s failure to notify the Authority before embarking on the strike.

He explained that the union wanted its concerns to be heard and appreciated the NPA CEO for agreeing to meet them and listen to their grievances.

“We want to apologise for not informing you ahead of time of our intended strike because we knew if we had told you, you’ll convince us not to go ahead with it,” Nyaunu said.

“There was no mention of NPA, we only wanted to let our concerns be heard. We want to thank you for offering a listening ear to all our issues and hopefully solutions can be found to these matters,” he added.

The meeting reaffirmed the NPA’s willingness to engage relevant stakeholders in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector to address challenges affecting the transportation of petroleum products, the welfare of tanker drivers and the safety of industry participants.

The discussions also highlighted the importance of improving road infrastructure and operational conditions along key petroleum transportation routes to ensure the efficient and safe movement of petroleum products.