Forty Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) with their own tanker fleets have officially severed their relationship with the Tanker Owners Union, citing a lack of accountability and transparency within the union’s leadership. This decision comes after multiple unsuccessful attempts to push for reforms aimed at ensuring greater transparency and addressing long-standing concerns that the union’s actions are not aligned with OMCs’ interests.
The split could have serious implications for Ghana’s fuel distribution system, potentially leading to delays, higher distribution costs, and increased prices for consumers as the OMCs navigate the logistics of securing alternative distribution channels. In response, these forty companies are now actively seeking partnerships that better align with their standards for governance, transparency, and efficiency to ensure that fuel transport remains streamlined and cost-effective.
Mr Benjamin Nsiah, Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE), has urged the breakaway OMCs to reconsider their decision, warning of the potential for deeper fragmentation within the industry. He emphasized that rejoining the Tanker Owners Union and working collectively toward reforms could lead to stronger, more sustainable governance structures that benefit all stakeholders.
“Divisions like this do not augur well for the welfare of tanker drivers, the union itself, and the broader industry,” Mr Nsiah commented. “We encourage these tanker owners to return to the union and collaboratively establish transparent, accountable mechanisms for fund management. Such improvements are only achievable if they work together at the union level.”
This development underscores the urgent need for structural improvements in Ghana’s oil transport sector, highlighting a broader call for governance reforms and accountability across the industry.
Story by: Mercy Addai Turkson
