Good riddance! - Tanker drivers react to Agyarko's dismissal

The Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers’ Union (GNPTDU) has congratulated President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for sacking Energy Minister Boakye Agyarko.

According to the drivers, they had lined up a series of demonstrations against the minister for failing to implement an agreement between them, the National Petroleum Authority and the Tanker Owners Association regarding their condition of service.

Speaking to Class News, National Chairman of the union, George Nyaunu, said Mr Agyarko acted contrary to laid-down agreements since he assumed office.

Mr Nyaunu appealed to the president to appoint a listening Energy Minister who would consider their plight.

“The president has done the right thing, we’re directly working under the minister, we put our issue before him to address it for us as tanker drivers who are carrying petroleum products across the country but ever since this man was appointed to this position as minister, he refused to see us as his children.

“[For] everybody working under you, you should listen to them but this man didn’t want to hear anything from us. Anytime you go to his office, he’s travelled or he doesn’t have time to talk to you, so, for us the tanker drivers, honestly speaking, we’re happy because up to now, our salaries and emoluments that have been negotiated between tanker drivers and tanker owners and the NPA; the implementation has become a problem.”

Mr Agyarko was fired over the controversial $510 million Ameri deal which he tried reviewing.

Mr Agyarko came under heavy criticism when he claimed that Ghana will gain $405 million from the new power deal with Ameri Energy but it was discovered that the country will rather lose up to $472 million.

The Akufo-Addo administration recently began taking steps to amend portions of the deal.

The current government believes that there was no value-for-money in the deal signed by the NDC administration, hence the renegotiations.

The renegotiated deal, which has now been cancelled by the president, was expected to be approved by parliament when the House resumed from recess.