By Benjamin Asomah
Berekum, (Bono), Feb. 7, GNA – Acute fuel shortage has hit the Berekum Municipality in the Bono Region and left commercial drivers and tricycle (pragyia) riders in a state of despair.
During a visit, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) noticed that only one out of the 10 pumps had petrol and diesel, with many cars and tricycles parked around the pumps.
Some of the frustrated drivers and the riders told the GNA that some of the pumps had allegedly hoarded the petroleum products in anticipation of price increases.
According to Justice Bilatum, a pragyia rider, the commodity had been scarce in the Municipality since Wednesday February 5, 2025, and called on the government to do something about it.
Some of the pump attendants declined to speak to the media on the shortage, but the drivers and pragyia riders expressed unhappiness, saying the shortage had slowed down their economic activities.
In another development, residents in the Municipality have expressed concern about the surge in Indian hemp smoking and peddling in the area.
Describing the situation as alarming, they alleged that the peddlers sold the substance in open spaces at the Central Business District (CBD) of the Berekum Township and appealed to the police to do something immediately and bring the situation under control.
In an interview with the GNA, Mrs Janet Buabang, a trader at the CBD, said the situation was even worse during the night as the youth crowded the CBD to sell and smoke ‘weed’.
Mr Emmanuel Gyedu, a concerned resident, said the situation was out of control and called on the police to intensify night patrols to clamp down on the criminals.
GNA