Mustapha Hamid, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority
Tanker drivers across Ghana are set to benefit from a pay rise, mandated by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in response to shocking findings about their working conditions and pay scale. The new payment structure, sparked by a report from the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE), addresses grave concerns over the underpayment and lack of benefits tanker drivers receive despite the high-risk nature of their work.
The CEMSE study highlighted severe pay gaps, with some drivers earning as little as GHS 1,000 per month without insurance, medical allowances, or proper safety training. The findings caused public outrage and calls for reform, prompting the NPA’s swift action to boost tanker drivers’ pay in alignment with the risks involved. Under the NPA’s new guidelines, top-tier drivers handling 54,000-litre tankers will receive a base salary of GHS 2,300 monthly. Drivers operating smaller tankers, with capacities between 9,000 and 13,500 litres, will now be guaranteed at least GHS 1,000. These changes are backed by additional allowances for long-distance hauls: GHS 1,100 for trips beyond Kintampo for larger tankers, and GHS 600 for vehicle maintenance.
Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director of CEMSE, praised the NPA’s intervention as a “huge win for Ghana’s tanker drivers.” He urged tanker owners to fulfil their obligations fully, noting that many have failed to contribute to social security on behalf of their drivers, leaving them vulnerable.
The CEMSE report also revealed a troubling lack of safety training, with about a third of tanker drivers lacking adequate protocols. The NPA’s initiative underscores not just wage reform but also an increased emphasis on driver welfare and safety, placing tanker owners under significant scrutiny.
The new pay structure, welcomed as a lifeline by tanker drivers, has heightened public expectations for tanker owners to comply fully with the safety and welfare standards set by the NPA. For drivers, this directive signifies long-awaited recognition of their essential role—and the dangers they face daily in keeping Ghana’s fuel supply chain running smoothly.
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