Members of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union have announced an indefinite sit-down strike, demanding better working conditions.
The drivers are advocating for the implementation of a policy framework designed to improve their salaries and overall working conditions, which has been pending approval by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) board since November 2023.
The tanker drivers expressed frustration over the delay, noting that despite multiple attempts to push for the framework’s approval, the NPA board has not taken any decisive action. This prolonged inaction has left the drivers feeling neglected and undervalued, prompting them to resort to industrial action.
Vice President of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union, Sunday Alabi, conveyed their grievances to Citi News. He highlighted that the union had even escalated the matter by sending a petition to the Presidency, seeking intervention for the policy framework’s approval. However, they have yet to receive any response, further exacerbating their frustration.
The indefinite strike is set to continue until the policy framework is approved. The drivers are resolute in their decision, emphasizing that the strike is their last resort after exhausting all other avenues for negotiation. Their unified stand underscores the critical need for immediate attention to their working conditions.
As the strike persists, the impact on fuel distribution and supply could become significant, potentially affecting various sectors across the country. The drivers’ demands for fair treatment and improved conditions reflect broader issues within the industry, calling for urgent resolution from the relevant authorities.
Remarks by Sunday Alabi, Vice President of the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union
We wrote a petition to the Presidency last week to have the framework approved but we have not heard anything yet and that is why we are embarking on the sit-down strike because the livelihood of our drivers is so bad.
Just like the saying goes, ‘electricity no get leg, ebe copper wire wey dey carry am go,’ the petroleum downstream sector does not have leg, it is the tanker drivers that carry it and so we cannot be suffering and the rest will be enjoying and so long as they resist to approve the framework, we will not resume work, he said.
