Boat Owners Association in Yeji gives 14 days ultimatum to gov’t to make premix fuel available or advise themselves.
Following their widely circulated statement regarding the recent shortage of premix fuel in Yeji in the Pru East District) in the Bono East Region, Honorable Emmanuel Kwaku Boam, the NDC Parliamentary Candidate, has engaged with the Boat Owners Association in his constituency.
The Association explained that for the past three months, they have not received even a “Tanker of fuel” but they have been seeing premix fuel been transported to some nearby areas along the Volta Lake.
The fishermen related that initially, they were receiving the fuel but was not enough so they formed a group that enabled them share among themselves in jery cans and buy raw ones from the filling stations and mixed with oil to support what they get from the government.
In addition they explained that, they buy one jery can of the premix fuel at One hundred and eighty five cedi (₵185.00).
The Boat owners hinted that that they feel disappointed to the fact that though the government claims the shortage of the fuel is a national issue, yet some people get the fuel and sell to them at Three hundred and fifty cedis(₵350.00).
The question is where do those people get the fuel from and sell them at an exhorbitant price.
They briefed the PC about all the challenges confronting them and appeal to the government to probe the issue before they would raise the red card to ensure that total justice is equally done to all the fishermen in the area without discrimination.
The Secretary of the Association Mr. John Kpeli further explained that, the source of the recent challenges they are facing is simple, stressing that the authorities of the Premix Board sees the Boat operators as NDC functionaries hence they are not ready supply them with the products
The Association has warned the government to provide a continuous supply of premix fuel to their community as they’ve initially sent a warning note to the government to indicate a possible “industrial strike,” and asked for a response within 14 days.
In his response the NDC Parliamentary Candidate Hon. Emmanuel Kwaku Boam, said every government sees the need to subsidize a premix fuel and supply them directly to the users to benefit the country.
Hinting that this particular Npp government and it’s supporters have the intention not to supply them directly, but to give it to their party faithful so that they can increase the price to the consumers.
Attached picture; Chairman of the Boat Owners Association.