WA: LPG RETAILERS BEMOAN DECLINE IN PATRONAGE
Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) retailers in Wa have expressed grave concern over the sharp decline in patronage by clients. This they attribute to the persistent increment in the price of the commodity.
Several managers of LPG filling stations are apprehensive about the future of their businesses. They intimate that of the trend of increment should continue within a few months they may run out of business. According to them their profit margins keep declining and sometimes it gets to a point where sometimes they are unable to pay salaries to their staff.
Home Radio news Albert Dapare can confirm that one can wait at the LPG filling station for hours without any client visiting the facility and those who visit do not have the means to fill the cylinder but rather buy any amount they have.
A supervisor at one of the gas filling stations who spoke to Home Radio news on condition of anonymity stated that there exist some trust issues between attendants and their clients due to the frequent price changes. ‘When people know the price of LPG and return the next time and it has been increased they begin to think we are exploiting them.
Home Radio news caught up with the operator of Biyad Trinity Gas Alhaji Yahaya Saadugu who stated that his business is merely surviving since he barely makes profit. He intimated that he at a point considered converting it into a fuel station but for his commitment to sacrifice for his people.
Mr. Saadugu also maintained that they have seen a decline of over fifty percent (50%) in patronage. This he says affects profit margins since Gas by its nature evaporates overtime.
‘The fluctuation in price every two weeks affects both the Oil Marketing Companies and we the retailers. Anytime you are to order for LPG when you run out of stock you have to raise money elsewhere to add to your sales inoder to make payments due to the increment’.
He also was emphatic that when prices are increased marginally they do not adjust their pumps untill overtime the marginal increments become significant.
Speaking to a client at one of the LPG filling stations who identified herself as Bayor Rita she said ‘Previously I used LPG for cooking everything at home but now I compliment it with charcoal. I only use LPG when I’m in a hurry’.
The introduction of LPG in Ghana was expected to cause a drastic decline in the use of charcoal and firewood but its price is defeating that intention.
By Albert Dapare
Home Radio News
