Filling stations still without fuel

Commercial drivers in Osu on Thursday said the current fuel shortage in Accra is affecting their daily sales and called on the government to address the problem immediately to bring normalcy to the transport business.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) got to Osu and its environs, pump attendants were spotted signaling customers that there was no fuel. Meanwhile, drivers had joined long queues with the hope of getting fuel.

Taxi drivers who had a little left in their tanks were on the lookout for passengers who were willing to pay extra for “dropping”. The BDCs said they are unable to supply petroleum products because the banks are reluctant to give them credit due to the mounting debt.

Mr Henry Appiah, Assistant Manager of Total Filling Station, Osu Oxford Street, said they were only retail outlets and cannot offer any solution to the situation. “It is not our fault. If the fuel is here, we will sell,” he said.

He said his outlet sold 10,000 litres a day, but they were only supplied with 9000 litres yesterday which ran out within few hours. “As we speak, we have no fuel. The people who can help the situation are Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and the BDCs,” he said.

Mr Eugene Boadu, an Opel Cadette owner, said he was very worried because he was not sure the fuel in his tank could take him to work. “I just pray the car won’t stop on the way. They claim we might have fuel on Monday but I cannot wait that long,” he said.

While some customers saw the situation as one motivated by hoarding on the part of the filling stations, the managers said that they had genuinely run out of stock and were awaiting their consignments.