Gas, fuel shortage hit Sunyani

STORY: FROM MICHAEL SARPONG MFUM, SUNYANI

Drivers and residents in the Sunyani metropolis, who have in the last six days, been combing the city with their cars, gallons and gas cylinders in search of fuel and gas as a result of gas and fuel shortage, have been seething with anger, raining all manner of curses on the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).

According to the aggrieved residents and drivers, the city authorities as well as the Mills government do not give a dime about the hardships they are going through each passing day.

The drivers in particular contended that though the city authorities were aware of the gas and fuel shortage in the municipality no frantic efforts were being made to address the problem.

Today news team visits to some of the communities in Sunyani revealed that some residents wake up as early as 4:00 a.m., with their gas cylinders to search for gas for their household chores.

Among the areas visited by the paper were Anwiase, Abesim, Fiapre and New Dorma where many of the gas vending stations saw scenes of long winding queues of gas cylinders waiting anxiously to be filled. Some of the stations had posted of “No gas”.

Today observed that whilst some residents managed to get gas others had to return to their homes with their bulky gas cylinders.

The shortage is really affecting economic activities within the municipality and its environs. Most cars especially taxis have packed because of the shortage of the commodity.

Some of the gas vending stations in the municipality were also closed as they were without gas.

Only two gas stations are currently operating, Anwiase Station and Trinity Gas in front of Sunyani Senior High (SUSEC) on the main Sunyani-Kumasi road.

When the paper got to Trinity gas filling station, there were long queues of both drivers and those who needed gas for cooking purposes.

What was also disturbing was that the long queues had been causing traffic jams along major roads in Sunyani.

On the Abesim road, drivers driving from Abesim have to be careful to avoid accidents.

There were few exchanges among some of the drivers because some wanted to jump the queue.

In an interview with some of the drivers, they registered their displeasure about the situation.

Kwame Hayford, a taxi driver, said he had not been working for the past five days.

“For the past five days I’ve not worked and I am with three children. How do I look after them?

I’m calling on President Atta Mills to do something about this situation because it is affecting all of us in Sunyani,” he angrily expressed.

Ms Cynthia Oteng, a businesswoman based in Sunyani, also recounted her ordeal.

“A pregnant woman as I am, I came around 5:00 a.m., to look for gas. Look at the time it is now 10 a.m. and it is now that I’ve gotten gas.

Indeed if this is the change Ghanaians yearned for, then I am very sorry this is a negative change.

I am disappointed in the government.

Look at what is happening here, drivers are fighting among themselves because of gas,” she lamented.

Kingsley Mensah, a taxi driver, who plies from Sunyani-Abesim, was also angry about the situation.