The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has expressed concern about an increasing number of fuel tanker drivers and their assistants leaving the petroleum transportation sector to engage in illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey.

The Authority says the trend is being fueled by relatively low income in the haulage of petroleum products, resulting in a significant shortage of skilled drivers within the industry.

This was disclosed during a meeting with Parliament’s Energy Committee in Accra on Wednesday, April 22, where the Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, indicated that many drivers are finding it difficult to retain their assistants, particularly during trips to mining communities.

He further explained that some of these assistants opt to remain in such areas because illegal mining activities provide faster and higher financial rewards.

According to him, this development is disrupting operations in the downstream petroleum sector, as more experienced personnel continue to leave for alternative income sources.

Mr. Tameklo added that the Authority is working on interventions, including a revised pay structure for tanker drivers.

He noted that the initiative aims to harmonize earnings and enhance working conditions, making the profession more appealing and reducing staff turnover.

The NPA is optimistic that these measures will help retain workers and improve the safe and efficient distribution of petroleum products nationwide.

“Now, what we have realised is that there’s a high attrition rate of the experienced tanker drivers and mates. Anytime the tanker drivers come, they come with different mates, and the reason we found out was that when they go to the mining communities to discharge petroleum products to the mine, he loses one mate because, according to the mates, “oyam ahwiaa naa” is more profitable than being a driver’s mate.

“So the most experienced drivers, they are losing it from the downstream to other areas. So one of the things we are trying to do to resolve that problem is that we are coming up with a tanker drivers’ remuneration framework, where we would ensure standardised payment by way of salary to the tanker drivers.”