Drivers give thumbs up for GOIL and Shell

A large contingent of commercial and private drivers in Accra and Tema metropolis at the weekend adjudged Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) and Shell Ghana Limited as Oil Marketing Companies of choice.

Other Oil Marketing Companies mentioned in the survey includes; Engen Ghana Limited; Star Oil Filling Stations; Eve Oil; Universal Oil Company; and Glory Oil.

The drivers said their choice of preference was based on the cost of fuel per litre, attitude of filling station attendants and general service provided.

In a survey conducted by the Ghana News Agency at some major lorry stations in Accra and Tema Metropolis, most of the drivers named the filling stations of the GOIL and Shell as the preferred business centres.

The random GNA survey tagged: “Customer Satisfaction at Filling Stations,” revealed that most Trotro, Taxi and Private car drivers have encountered some uncomfortable situation at a Filling Station at least once.

At the Accra Bus Station in Tema, Nana Agyapong, a commercial bus driver, who runs Tema to Achimota, said he preferred to buy diesel for his vehicle from the new Shell Filling station at Abeka Lapaz.

He said he also buys from the new GOIL Filling station at Ablekuma because of the moderate price of the fuel, its longevity and the fact that there is usually no long queues because there are lot of pumps.

Mr Joseph Arhum, who shuttles between Tema to 37 Military Hospital Lorry Station and Mr Jerry John Akorlor who runs between Tema to 37 Military Hospital Lorry Station and Aflao said they buy Diesel for their vehicle from any GOIL Filling Station around the country.

Mr Arhum said somebody prescribed the station and he realized the price was moderate so he continued buying from there, but if he does not buy at GOIL, he preferred to buy from Star Oil at Kasoa.

Mr Akorlor on the other hand, said he started buying from GOIL filling stations when he started driving and he is not willing to stop buying from there under any condition.

He said the stations other services including oil change and alignment checks are very good, with splendid customer service and his windscreens are cleaned when he visits the station also informs his decision to continue buying from there.

Mr Samson Dukuu also a commercial bus driver told the GNA that he buys diesel for his vehicle at Star Oil in Kasoa because he tried other filling stations and noticed Star Oils prices were cheaper and also nearer to his place of work.

He however said that if he discovers any other station with cheaper prices than Star Oil, he would change.

Ms Doreen Duah, a banker who resides in Tema but works in Obuasi said she buys fuel for her vehicle at Total Filling Station because her employers has made it mandatory.

Mr Joseph Zugbor who plies Tema to Accra and Aflao said he buys diesel at either the new Shell or GOIL Filling Stations at Achimota.

He said their other products are top quality, and he started buying from them because of their good customer service which also applies to Mr Awudu Kassim, a bus driver.

Mr Fiifi Antwi, a businessman based in Tema, said he buys petrol from Agapet Filling Station in Tema because of their excellent services and the fact that it is a one-stop service station.

Mr Antwi said he also buys from the Total Filling Station at the Tema Roundabout which acts as a first point of call because it is closer to his home.

At the CMB Lorry station in Accra Mr Yaw Ansah, a driver told the GNA that he had been buying fuel from Shell for so many years and had no reason to change.

He noted that Shell had been his preferred choice for a long time but he had recently begun patronizing GOIL due to its affordability.

At the Korle Bu lorry station some drivers said they prefer GOIL because they trust the Ghana element in the brand name and they believe GOIL does not cheat road users.

Mr Daniel Attukwei, a taxi driver who commutes between the Korle Bu and Kaneshie stations, explained that GOIL offers value for money services: “The money you will save with GOIL daily may be small but cumulatively after buying from them for about one year you would have saved a huge amount”.

Nii Lankai, a Tema Station to Botwe driver also affirmed GOIL and Allied Oil as preferred Filling Stations.

Some drivers however, especially those operating the Tema Station and Teshie route, seemed to prefer Total Filling Stations believing that their fuel last longer than what other Filling Stations provide.

Mr Kwaku Nti, a driver who runs the Tema Station to Aburi route, said he also prefers Total Filling Station at Aburi.

At the main Kaneshie Lorry Station, both inter-city and intra-city drivers said they prefer GOIL and Shell Filling station to all the other filling stations because it barely increases fuel prices even when it is increased nationwide.

The drivers told GNA in an interview that apart from GOIL and Shell Filling station, they prefer Total Filling Stations to the rest.

Other major Lorry Stations visited includes; Lorry Stations at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, 37 Military Hospital Lorry stations and Tudu main Lorry Stations.

However, some drivers noted that they sometimes feel reluctant to purchase fuel some Filling Stations because the attendants reduce the quantities the buyers pay for to increase their profit.

At the Ho and Tema Station in Accra most drivers complained that they are usually cheated, “you do not get value for money; some of the stations have adjusted their pumps”.

Other drivers also complained about the quality of petroleum products at some filling stations which they claimed damages their engine.

Most of the drivers noted that filling station malpractice is a daily affair.

Drivers are calling on the organizations that are in charge of operating the machines to have security measures placed at all filling stations in order to curb all malpractices.