GOIL MD Clears the Air on Tanker Drivers’ Strike
The ongoing strike by the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union has been a topic of discussion in the country, with many stakeholders calling for a resolution. However, the Managing Director of the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL), Kwame Osei-Prempeh, has shed light on the situation, stating that GOIL cannot be blamed for the strike.
According to Mr. Osei-Prempeh, GOIL has no contract with tanker drivers and therefore cannot be held responsible for their conditions of service.
He further said that transporters are the only party GOIL has a contract with, who are employers of the tanker drivers.
“We have the GOIL Tankers Drivers Association but we have no contract with any tanker driver.
Is there any driver who can say GOIL has employed them and we are not paying them well? The only contract we have is with the transporters.
We have not employed any tanker driver and so if the tanker drivers are not being paid well, they should not take out their frustration on GOIL. We can’t set salaries for transporters to pay,” he stated.
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This statement comes after allegations by the Chairman of the Tanker Drivers Union, George Nyaunu, that GOIL and other Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) owe transporters arrears spanning several months, resulting in union members not being paid.
Mr. Nyaunu has vowed that until their concerns are addressed, they will not return to work despite pleas from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The drivers are pushing for the implementation of a policy framework aimed at enhancing their salaries and overall working conditions, which has been pending with the NPA board since November 2023.
It is clear that the issue at hand is not between GOIL and the tanker drivers but rather between the transporters and the tanker drivers.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) must take immediate action to resolve this matter and ensure that the tanker drivers return to work.
The strike has already caused disruptions to the fuel supply chain, and it is essential that a solution is found soon to prevent further chaos.
The government and other stakeholders seek to work together to address the concerns of the tanker drivers and ensure that they are paid fairly.
In conclusion, while the strike by the Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union is a complex issue, it is clear that GOIL is not responsible for their conditions of service.
The focus must now shift to resolving the issue between the transporters and the tanker drivers.
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