The possibility of fuel shortage looms as tanker owners in the country have threatened to withdraw their services over the invasion of the fuel transportation business by foreigners.
According to the Tanker Owners Union, contrary to the local content law in the petroleum sector which gives only Ghanaians the sole privilege to transport oil, a Chinese company linked to the construction of an oil refinery in Tema has imported numerous tankers to also transport the petroleum products.
Member of the Tanker Owners Union, Kwame Juantuah in an interview with Accra-based JoyNews noted that this move by the Chinese company has the potential of kicking the locals out of business hence resulting in fear and frustration within the union.
He further indicated that correspondence with their regulator, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has not yielded any positive outcome.
In view of this, the union is threatening to embark on a strike if the NPA fails to intervene to settle the issue. He therefore called on Ghanaians to brace themselves for a possible fuel shortage should the situation persist.
“It [strike] is the last point of call that we want to do. We are hoping that we can have some discussions with the authorities that be will sit down and talk this thing through. But if our backs are hit against the wall, there will be no option but for us to go on strike and not lift. Obviously, it is going to bring shortages in the country with refined petroleum products. .” Kwame Juantuah noted.
He continued,”because these tankers haul to the petrol garages so if they decide they are not going to haul again who suffers? It is the country because of a foreign company; no it can’t happen that way. It shouldn’t,”
