LPG Shortage Hits Tema

scene from the Kayson Gas Company Limited yesterday

A tour of some stations by the paper on Tuesday revealed that long queues had been formed by domestic and commercial users of the product.

The taxi drivers turned most roads in the area into parking lots.

At the Kayson Gas Company Limited at Community 2, Tema, two long queues were formed by domestic users, who had several cylinders and commercial drivers.

Most residents, who spoke to the paper, said they slept over night at the station in order to purchase LPG.

Others claim they had been at the station for over three days.

Numbers given out by owners of the station to the public could not defuse the tension.

Ashaiman Fitter Line
The story at the Ashaiman 'Fitter Line' was not different, as long queues were formed by the public at various LPG stations in that area.

Some of the commercial drivers told DAILY GUIDE that they arrived at the station two days ago. A lucky driver, who gave his name as Newtown Owusu, claimed he travelled all the way from Dawhenya to the station to buy LPG.

'My brother it has not been easy. I got here on Sunday and I have waited till now,' he remarked joyously.

No Gas Signs
Other stations had erected the 'No Gas' sign posts at their entrance.

The situation, according to some commercial drivers, was creating problems in their homes, as their wives had accused them of sleeping other women under the guise of trying to purchase LPG.

Customers alleged that the pump attendants were extorting monies from them.

'I have been ignored by some of the attendants because I could not afford an amount of GH¢5 to an attendant. Any customer who pays that amount is quickly served regardless of how late that person arrives, a furious lady at the Kayson Gas Company, noted.

Extortion
Explaining further, Emmanuel Opoku, a cashier at the station, denied claims that his pump attendants were extorting money from their customers.

'We gave out numbers to them the previous night when most of them came to form queues here. It is to allow us to serve them faster and better avoid the usual confusion as to who came earlier. I do not believe that my people will demand money before they serve a customer,' he stated.

He said that his outfit took delivery of the product on Monday morning and quickly sold them to residents.

'We continued this morning and as you can see we are still serving them and hope to do so until we run out of stock,' Mr. Opoku commented.

NDC Deception
Most of the residents blamed the LPG shortage on the Mahama administration, claiming the NDC mislead Ghanaians with their slogan 'working for you.'

When DAILY GUIDE contacted Abba Lokko, Corporate Affairs Manager of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) on the shortage, she declined to comment on the matter and asked the paper to speak to the NPA.

She said for some time now, TOR has not been functioning, stressing that the NPA had been responding to the issues.

Efforts to contact Yaro Kasambata, PRO for NPA on phone proved futile.

 From Razak Mardorgyz Abubakar, Tema