FUEL RETAILING SPRINGS UP IN WA (OCT 9, PAGE 20)

WAYSIDE fuel retailing is the new craze in the Wa municipality. People are seen in every nook and cranny of this town, especially at major junctions retailing fuel in small denominations with the lowest being GH¢1.
Most often, the fuel retailers are seen eagerly seated by big drums which are full of fuel with various container measurements and funnels lying by their sides.
The modus operandi of these dealers is that, they go to the petrol filling stations to buy large quantities of fuel into drums, after which they transport them to the various destinations to sell.
In some cases, the fuel is hoarded and during crisis such as the recent fuel shortage which hit parts of the country, then they go into full business by selling it at exorbitant price.
One gallon of petrol, which is sold at the filling stations for GH¢5, is sold at GH¢6 and motorists have no option than to purchase it to facilitate their movement.
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic revealed that the increase in the activities of the fuel retailers was as a result of the increase in the population of students of the Wa Campus of the University for Development Studies and the Wa Polytechnic.
People are seen in all arterial roads leading to various lecture halls of the two institutions, especially the UDS, engaged in brisk business.
Currently, the number of motorbikes has increased by over 50 per cent. According to the petrol dealers, their targets are mainly the students, who find it difficult to buy one gallon fuel.
Areas where these fuel retailers are mostly found include Konta–Lawmas Junction, Konta–Bamahu, between Upland Hotel Junction and Wa Polytechnic, among others.
Unlike some parts of the country where the business was done by Malians and Nigerians, it was the opposite in Wa, where the indigenous are the main characters.
Musah Salim, a fuel retailer, described the business as good, but declined to comment further.
Although the activities of these dealers have brought some respite to motor cyclists, it is also very dangerous as the fuel could easily lead to disaster, especially when it gets contact with inflammable items.
One does not know how these people transact their businesses. For example, nobody could tell whether they have acquired permits to operate that business.
The Ghana National Fire Service must endeavour to monitor the activities of these petrol dealers, who most often, transport the unsold fuel to various parts of the municipality after the day’s work to avoid calamities. A stitch in time saves nine, says the old adage.