The unsung heroes of our nation-building are Tanker drivers (BRV drivers). Bulk Road Vehicles (BRV), popularly known as Tankers, are used to transport petroleum products across the country.
In this modern world, the most vital commodity is Petroleum products. Whether you reside in Pusiga or Tema, you expect to drive your car to the nearest fuel station and you can buy Petrol or Diesel. The process to distribute fuel to all parts of the country has become a seamless operation that we take for granted. Again, the price of fuel is the same in Wa or Takoradi, Sefwi Wiawso or Ho.
The Petroleum industry can keep the same price across the country and distribute Petroleum products to all corners using a levy called the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF). The UPPF is included in the price of Petroleum products that we buy. It is currently 85p/litre.
The cost of transporting fuel is paid for with this Fund and it is managed by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
In recent days, there has been a lot of agitation by the Tanker drivers’ unions. They are complaining that they are not being paid by their employers, the Tanker Owners. If you are a driver and you have worked within a month, transporting an essential product like petrol or diesel, you expect your wages without any excuses from your employer. The trend is that the salaries of these drivers are often delayed for months. These drivers don’t have any other income, so some will start stealing the precious cargo they carry, which brings about adulteration to hide the theft.
We have all complained about bad fuel that spoils our engines. We have constantly called on the NPA to help resolve these issues. Under the leadership of Dr. Mustapha Hamid, a lot has been accomplished. All this accomplishment will go to waste if the fundamental problem, the plight of Tanker drivers, is not resolved.
Since 13% of the freight rate paid to the transport owner from the UPPF is meant for drivers’ remuneration, NPA has decided to introduce a scheme that will ensure drivers are paid directly when they have worked within a month.
Under this new scheme, drivers will be paid a basic salary of between 1500 and 2200 Ghana cedis depending on the capacity of the Tanker, plus a reimbursable amount of 500 to 1100 Ghana cedis per trip depending on the distance traveled.
Does this sound like a bad thing to do for the drivers who drive day and night to make sure you and I can get fuel to buy? Why are some people against this scheme? When are we going to stop the rich from getting richer at the expense of the poor? We should all ignore the malicious media stories meant to stop this scheme, which will help the poor unsung heroes. Why would anyone who owns a Tanker be against paying a 2200 Ghana cedis monthly salary to a driver? We should all support the management of NPA to do the right thing for our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, the Tanker drivers of our nation.
