By Mercy Darko
Tanker drivers across the country have suspended their nationwide strike after meeting the Roads and Highways Minister and the Transport Minister.
The four days strike almost plunged the country into a fuel shortage crisis.
The Roads Minister has assured the drivers that their concerns will be addressed immediately.
The four Tanker Unions, the Ghana National Petroleum Union, the Bulk Tanker Drivers Union, the Gas Tanker Drivers Union and the United Goil Tanker Drivers Association on Monday, June 26, 2023 embarked on a nationwide strike, citing poor roads to fuel depots across the country.
In Tema, the drivers say the Tema Oil Refinery, TOR to Kpone road has become unmotorable making it difficult for drivers to ply the road especially when they are loaded with products.
Four days into the strike, the Minister For Roads and Highways and the Transport Minister visited the Union Drivers in Tema and took a tour on the bad roads.
According to the Roads Minister, the roads have been awarded to contractors except that the work had been slow.
The Minister admitted that the roads are bad and must be fixed immediately.
The Transport Minister Mr. Kwasi Ofori Asiamah asked the drivers to consider the shortage of petroleum products and its effect on Ghanaians and go back to work while work continues on the road.
After over two hours of closed-door meeting between the two Ministers and the four Driver Unions, the drivers agreed to suspend the strike with the condition that a seven-member Committee be formed to monitor the progress of work in Tema and also ensure that the Ministry construct roads leading to other fuel depots countrywide.
The Vice Chairman of the National Petroleum Drivers Union read the Communique on behalf of the Union.
Drivers from midnight of June 29, 2023, will begin loading petroleum products from all depots across the country.
The suspension has come in time as it has averted a possible fuel shortage.