Mr. James Kwoku Ahiadome, Chairman of tanker Owners Union
A seismic shift is underway in Ghana’s oil transportation sector as 40 tanker owners have reportedly filed formal requests with the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to withdraw from the Tanker Owners Union. Citing a severe lack of transparency and accountability among union executives, these owners are calling for an end to the monthly 3.5% Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) deductions from their earnings.
The breakaway group, representing some of Ghana’s major oil distributors—including Star Oil, Zen Petroleum, Frimps Oil, Allied, and Petrosol—claims recent research from the Center for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has revealed troubling findings. The report implicates several Tanker Owners in underpaying tanker drivers, a finding the dissidents say damages their reputations as fair employers.
In exclusive interviews with The Hawk Newspaper, the tanker owners voiced frustrations over the union’s financial dealings, specifically the lack of transparency in the use of Union funds. Established to support union members and bolster sector operations, these deductions traditionally finance welfare initiatives and business improvements. But now, members allege the funds are handled secretively, with executives reportedly underreporting revenues and failing to detail how and where the money is spent.
“Nobody knows where the money goes. We rarely see reports, and when we do, there’s no clarity on who the beneficiaries are,” a prominent tanker owner shared with The Hawk. Without insight into these substantial monthly deductions, members say their confidence in union leadership has eroded beyond repair.
This breakaway move has ignited tension within the union and with the NPA. Union executives are allegedly lobbying the NPA to block the formation of a rival group, viewing the defection as a direct threat to their authority. Sources at the NPA report that union leaders are working fervently to prevent the tanker owners’ exit, fearing it could set a precedent for more defections.
The 40 tanker owners, however, appear committed to establishing an independent association, driven by a desire for transparency and greater control over how their contributions are allocated. Their defection could mark a new era in Ghana’s petroleum sector, one where tanker owners demand a greater say in financial decisions affecting their livelihoods and operations.
This growing dispute is poised to reshape Ghana’s oil transportation sector, as both sides brace for a prolonged battle over transparency, control, and accountability within the Tanker Owners Union.
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