Tanker drivers strike over alleged Police cum Military brutalities

Tema, Oct. 20, GNA - The Ghana Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association have initiated a strike action following a Military and Police exercise at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) on Wednesday, during which a number of drivers were arrested and several others were wounded

The exercise was aimed at arresting suspected criminals at TOR, Tema Fishing Harbour and the Main Harbour areas but the tanker drivers said it was wrong for the Police to attack and mercilessly brutalise them and their mates, who were going about their normal duties.

The situation has compelled the refinery to temporary shut its loading point, since the drivers have refused to work and have, therefore, left their tankers in the refinery yard.

The drivers in protest blocked the main road, which also leads to the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) and other heavy industries in the area for about one hour.

Three members of the association Mr Daniel Nii Akam, Mr T. K. Binney and Mr Abraham Kufordzi were at the TOR clinic receiving treatment for various degrees of injuries when newsmen visited there.

Mr Wilfred Gbormitah, National Chairman of the Association said the members of the association will not work until all their colleagues arrested, are released unconditionally, those wounded compensated and a formal apology is rendered by whoever ordered the exercise.

Mr Daniel Kabutei, National Secretary of the Association said at about 10:30 hours the Police and the Military invaded the refinery and without any questions started beating up people indiscriminately.

He said they entered the offices of the Association, drove people out and arrested the majority of the drivers, brutalised them with truncheons and the butt of their guns and stamped on them with their boots.

This resulted in an open confrontation during, which the drivers blocked the roads compelling the Police and the Military to retreat. Mr Robert Forson, Acting Deputy Managing Director, Operations at TOR said the refinery was informed about the operation but the mode in which it was executed was another question.

He said what has happened is quite unfortunate, so he was going to contact the security authorities to find out what went wrong. Mr Joe Danquah, Deputy Commissioner of Police for Tema Region denied that the Police entered the offices of the tanker drivers and that all those who were arrested were picked up from outside for loitering.

He said that the tanker drivers have been invited to go and identify any of their members, who was wrongly picked up. Meanwhile, the situation remains tense at the refinery as the TOR management is meeting the leaders of the tanker drivers to convince them to return to work.