A section of the drivers
Commercial drivers operating in the Western Region have warned that there is likely to be a disaster within the Sekond-Takoradi Metropolis if nothing is done to prevent some recalcitrant drivers from turning some fuel stations into lorry parks.
According to the drivers, it is pathetic to behold the sight of how unauthorised commercial drivers, popularly called ‘bombers’, often pick passengers at Edzii Goil filling station and other fuel stations within the metropolis, ignoring the dangers it could pose.
The drivers have, therefore, called on the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to, as a matter of urgency, intervene to stop the fuel stations from allowing their grounds to be used as lorry parks to help prevent any fire outbreaks in the future.
This came to light when some staff and board members of the NPA interacted with drivers of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the Ahanta District the Western Region.
Among the aims of the interaction was to educate the drivers on some safety regulations as far as fuel usage is concerned.
The commercial drivers appealed to the NPA to help control cheating, under-serving and adulteration of fuel at some filling stations.
They expressed worry about cheating at filling stations and said the act was on the increase.
Reacting to the concerns raised, Allotey Jacobs, a board member of NPA, assured that some stringent measures would be put in place to stop filling station owners from allowing their premises to be used as lorry parks.
He promised to get in touch with the general manager of Goil to discourage fuel dealers of the company from allowing drivers to pick passengers at fuel stations.
For his part, Yaro Kasambata, Director of Public Affairs at the NPA, stressed that the authority had instituted measures to check cheating at filling stations.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi