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| Drivers queuing for fuel in Cape Coast |
DRIVERS IN the country seem not to be finding things easy due to the frequent fuel shortage in the country after the assumption of office by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), notwithstanding the promises made in the 2008 general elections on fuel prices.
The fuel shortage has worsened in the Central Region as motorists, particularly commercial drivers, begun queuing at dawn at the limited filling stations with the essential commodity.
Some drivers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE yesterday said their aspiration to travel all the way from Winneba, Twifo Praso, Assin Fosu to Cape Coast to get fuel did not materialize as the situation was even worse in the metropolis.
The drivers, who did not understand why they had to go through such a hectic situation, lambasted the NDC government for failing to fulfill its campaign promises.
Some of the drivers who complained bitterly to DAILY GUIDE at the Pedu Total filling station said they had to come as early as 3:00am to queue to enable them get to work on time, while others complained bitterly about how the situation was making their businesses fall apart.
The frustrated drivers became more disappointed when their demand was not met as they were told they would be given only one gallon of fuel each, no matter the amount they wanted to buy.
This infuriated the drivers who refused to take the one gallon because they claimed they were going on long journeys, for which one gallon was not enough.
The Manager at the Total filling station at Bakaano, Richard Mensah said the station had 13,500 liters of fuel as at last Friday, but was sold out by Sunday.
From Takoradi, Emmanuel Opoku reports that commercial and private vehicle drivers in some parts of the western region and in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis in particular have since last Friday been going through stress as they search for fuel, as the fuel shortage intensifies in some parts of the region, slowing down economic activities.
Some of the filling stations DAILY GUIDE visited in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis yesterday revealed that only diesel and kerosene were on sale as majority of the drivers. Particularly taxi drivers were seen moving from one fuel station to another in search of petrol.
The fuel stations DAILY GUIDE visited included the Total Filling station at the Takoradi Market Circle and at the Kwame Nkrumah round-about, Shell filling station near Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Takoradi, the Edzii Goil filling station, also at the Nkrumah round-about, Glory Oil at Shama and Total Filling station at Aboadze.
Some taxi drivers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE alleged that the country had been experiencing intermittent fuel shortage since the current government took over power and said the situation had brought untold hardships to them.
Unconfirmed report reaching DAILY GUIDE from Tarkwa has it that the commercial drivers in the municipality on Monday scrambled for fuel at the Total filling station, the only station that had the product in the area, while some of them also took advantage of the situation to charge abnormal fares.
At the Kwame Nkrumah round-about Goil filling station, the General Manager, Edzii confirmed the shortage of fuel in the metropolis and debunked the assertion that the fuel stations were hoarding the product in anticipation of an increase in petroleum prices by the government.
He said he did not know when the situation would be resolved and that until then, transport owners and drivers would only had to bear with the situation.
At Aboadze in the Shama District, commercial drivers and motor cycle owners were also seen moving from one fuel station to another with gallons in search of petrol.
The fuel shortage has worsened in the Central Region as motorists, particularly commercial drivers, begun queuing at dawn at the limited filling stations with the essential commodity.
Some drivers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE yesterday said their aspiration to travel all the way from Winneba, Twifo Praso, Assin Fosu to Cape Coast to get fuel did not materialize as the situation was even worse in the metropolis.
The drivers, who did not understand why they had to go through such a hectic situation, lambasted the NDC government for failing to fulfill its campaign promises.
Some of the drivers who complained bitterly to DAILY GUIDE at the Pedu Total filling station said they had to come as early as 3:00am to queue to enable them get to work on time, while others complained bitterly about how the situation was making their businesses fall apart.
The frustrated drivers became more disappointed when their demand was not met as they were told they would be given only one gallon of fuel each, no matter the amount they wanted to buy.
This infuriated the drivers who refused to take the one gallon because they claimed they were going on long journeys, for which one gallon was not enough.
The Manager at the Total filling station at Bakaano, Richard Mensah said the station had 13,500 liters of fuel as at last Friday, but was sold out by Sunday.
From Takoradi, Emmanuel Opoku reports that commercial and private vehicle drivers in some parts of the western region and in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis in particular have since last Friday been going through stress as they search for fuel, as the fuel shortage intensifies in some parts of the region, slowing down economic activities.
Some of the filling stations DAILY GUIDE visited in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis yesterday revealed that only diesel and kerosene were on sale as majority of the drivers. Particularly taxi drivers were seen moving from one fuel station to another in search of petrol.
The fuel stations DAILY GUIDE visited included the Total Filling station at the Takoradi Market Circle and at the Kwame Nkrumah round-about, Shell filling station near Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Takoradi, the Edzii Goil filling station, also at the Nkrumah round-about, Glory Oil at Shama and Total Filling station at Aboadze.
Some taxi drivers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE alleged that the country had been experiencing intermittent fuel shortage since the current government took over power and said the situation had brought untold hardships to them.
Unconfirmed report reaching DAILY GUIDE from Tarkwa has it that the commercial drivers in the municipality on Monday scrambled for fuel at the Total filling station, the only station that had the product in the area, while some of them also took advantage of the situation to charge abnormal fares.
At the Kwame Nkrumah round-about Goil filling station, the General Manager, Edzii confirmed the shortage of fuel in the metropolis and debunked the assertion that the fuel stations were hoarding the product in anticipation of an increase in petroleum prices by the government.
He said he did not know when the situation would be resolved and that until then, transport owners and drivers would only had to bear with the situation.
At Aboadze in the Shama District, commercial drivers and motor cycle owners were also seen moving from one fuel station to another with gallons in search of petrol.
-Source Desmond Dapaah, Daily Guide Cape Coast
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