The Ghana National Petroleum Tanker Drivers Union has raised the alarm over what they describe as repeated, unprovoked attacks by police outriders on the country’s highways. The Union says several tanker drivers have suffered injuries and damage to their vehicles after police dispatch riders, escorting convoys, attacked them for not making sudden stops to allow the convoys to pass.
They are now calling on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akufo Dampare, to take immediate action and rein in his men to prevent further harm.
The Union is particularly concerned about the October 16, 2024 incident in which a police outrider allegedly hurled a stone at a tanker carrying 54,000 litres of diesel, smashing the windscreen and injuring the driver in the process.
The attack occurred at Kwahu Hwidiem while the tanker was en route from Tema to the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation (BOST) depot in Kumasi.
The Ashanti Regional Chairperson of the Tanker Drivers Union, Mr. Sambian Edmund Baba, stated that such attacks could lead to catastrophic accidents, given the nature of the hazardous cargo these drivers transport. According to Mr. Baba, the nature of the fuel-laden vehicles makes it impossible for them to stop abruptly without risking disaster.
“We respect the presence of convoys, but safety cannot be compromised. Our vehicles carry thousands of litres of dangerous fuel, and a sudden stop could lead to serious accidents,” he explained. He urged the IGP to caution police riders against actions that endanger the lives of tanker drivers and other road users.
The October 16 incident is not isolated. The Union claims that in recent times, at least four similar attacks have occurred, where police outriders have targeted tanker drivers for not stopping immediately. In one instance, the rider’s violent action caused the driver to suffer injuries to his forehead. Mr. Baba emphasized that had the stone struck the driver’s eyes, the situation could have been fatal.
The Union’s frustration is mounting, with members threatening to take matters into their own hands if no action is taken by the police leadership. “We cannot allow those meant to enforce the law to act outside it. If the IGP does not intervene, we will defend ourselves by any means necessary,” Baba warned.
The tanker drivers argue that their work, already fraught with challenges, should not be further endangered by those tasked with maintaining law and order. The Union insists that until the police force addresses these issues, the risk of an explosive disaster on Ghana’s highways remains dangerously high.
