Kumasi: Tanker drivers in the Ashanti, Bono, Ahafo, and Western North regions have begun a three-day sit-down strike over concerns about fuel measurement systems at the Kumasi Depot of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST). The Vice Chairman of the Association of Tanker Drivers, Dominic Brenya, announced that the strike commenced on Monday, August 17, 2026, due to alleged inaccuracies in the measuring meters installed at the depot.
According to Ghana Web, the meters have failed several tests conducted by the drivers and other stakeholders, leading to reported fuel shortages for which drivers are allegedly being held financially responsible. Brenya stated that various exercises conducted with transporters, the National Petroleum Authority, and tanker unions showed no evidence of fuel siphoning, yet the measuring machines indicated otherwise.
Brenya highlighted the financial burden placed on drivers despite the introduction of modern technology to monitor drivers and track petroleum products. He explained that even with these monitoring systems, the machines continued to report shortages. The drivers suspect that the technology at the offloading point might be faulty or improperly calibrated, urging BOST, the NPA, and the government to investigate and resolve the issue promptly.
The Association of Tanker Drivers also expressed concerns about the loading system at the Kumasi Depot. The drivers reported inadequate loading facilities causing long delays and a lack of proper parking space, forcing them to park on the road's shoulders while waiting to load. They warned that this situation poses a risk to other road users due to the flammable nature of the transported petroleum products.
Furthermore, the drivers are demanding proper sleeping facilities at the depot for those waiting for extended periods to load their trucks. The association has vowed to continue the sit-down strike until their concerns are addressed by BOST, the NPA, and the government. Meanwhile, the management of BOST in Kumasi has declined to comment on the drivers' concerns. If prolonged, the strike could disrupt the supply of petroleum products to filling stations in the affected regions.