VEEP’s convoy in a brawl with taxi drivers

Severe fuel shortage hits Techiman

Techiman in the Brong Ahafo region and the market nerve centre of the West Africa Sub-region is hit by a severe shortage of fuel for the past one week. At the few petrol stations where one can get petrol or diesel to buy the queue is so long that taxi, trotro and private cars could be seen in long and bending queue which seems to end nowhere.

Information reaching this reporter from surrounding districts like Kintampo, Wenchi, and Nkoranza indicates that fuel stations are besieged by taxi drivers and private cars.

Drivers of the convoy of the Vice President who were going to the Northern region had a brawl with taxi drivers who had queued throughout the day to buy fuel at the Goil filling station at Techiman. It took security men hectic time to bring peace.

At about 2.45 on Wednesday 2009, the convoy drove to the filling station to refuel their vehicles but met a long queue. When they attempted to jump the queue, the visibly angry taxi drivers charged on them, shouting and yelling.

According to the drivers they saw no reason why the convoy should be given preferential treatment whiles they stood in the queue. As the augment went on the manager of the station begged the drivers to allow the convoy to refuel but it fell on deaf ears.

One taxi driver was heard insulting the convoy drivers and cursing the government for bringing hardship to them. As matters reached a crescendo, the drivers of the seven black Ford Expedition 4 by 4 vehicles mellowed and begged the drivers before they were allowed to refuel their vehicles.

Classic news reporters who rushed to the scene were ruffled and driven away. One of the our reporter who attempted to take a shot at the unruly scene was nearly handcuffed by the security details of the Veep and his camera seized but the camera was released to him later after hectic time of debate . Some of these cars registration numbers were WR 908-09, BA 210 – 09 and AS 4215 – 09.

As the convoy sped off, a large crowd which had gathered at the scene started hooting at them amidst curses. Meanwhile, the Goil filling station is the only petrol station serving the whole Techiman Municipality because the rest do not have any fuel to supply.

Speaking to Classic news a manager of one of the stations who decided to speak on the basis of anonymity said since the government slashed the credit facilities by half, fuel stations could not afford to purchase more for the consuming public. This situation, coupled with the inability of the TOR to produce more refined oil due to the unavailability of crude oil in the system has compounded the situation.