Peter Amewu Energy Minister
A major player in the petroleum product haulage sector has pleaded with the President to crack the whip on those who are creating avoidable challenges in the industry because of their positions and influence.
Speaking to DAILY GUIDE on anonymity, he traced the origin of the incessant strikes by tanker drivers to the invasion of the industry by some politicians and peddlers who are squeezing out registered transporters.
According to him, during the Mills administration, some politicians and appointees decided to use their influence in the same manner to contract some registered tanker drivers to haul petroleum products from the depots. According to him, “they hid behind some transporters to milk off their colleagues’ allocation by a percentage of between 25 and 30 of the total volume lifted, although they had no investment in the business”.
He continued: “Under the Mahama administration, family members, government appointees and friends were allowed into the industry and soon they hijacked the business completely.”
Some of the registered owners and drivers felt frustrated and mobilized resources to campaign against John Mahama’s government in the last polls, he disclosed.
Some political appointees are currently trying to scheme their way into the same business that cleared the NDC government out of power and this, he said, should be stopped forthwith.
“President Akufo-Addo recognizing the role of the private sector in the economic development of the country has done all he can to ensure that those who invested in the business are rewarded as such”, he pointed out, adding that “unfortunately some persons who use their links on the corridors of power are seeking to squeeze out businessmen from what should be their preserve.”
“It would be disastrous for persons to hijack trucks belonging to transporters to haul petroleum products at BOST because of their positions and influence. This should stop to allow the registered transporters to do their business and to pay the necessary taxes due the state and sustain their business.
“If this situation is not stopped, the transporters would lay off their workers due to the excessive demand on them by others who would take over their business and give them between 50 and 60 per cent of the total value lifted,” he cautioned.
This situation has direct impact on the quality of petroleum products transported by these faceless politicians who have hijacked the haulage business. In some instances, the drivers are not paid for transporting the products across the country, he revealed.
Under the circumstances, they are compelled to steal or compromise the quality of the products to increase the volume at the risk of the consuming public. The Energy Minister should be at the forefront of the campaign to eliminate the middlemen who are creating problems for BOST and the transporters who have secured loans to invest in the construction of parking lots, and training of drivers.
By A.R. Gomda