GPRTU distances itself from strike action by concerned drivers

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) says it has nothing to do with a

He said the government has not written to inform officials of GPRTU of any decision to relocate drivers from the Tema Station to the Hearts Park.

“Government will not just come and remove us from the New Tema Station terminal to the Hearts Park and bring the new buses here because that place was given to us by the government since 1992 and at the end of the day even if he wants to take it away from us, he’ll just notify us as we know him to be doing,” he said

The government is set to introduce in November, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which uses specialised buses on dedicated lanes for fast movement within urban settlements.

The buses are expected to ply Accra and Amasaman, Accra and Ofankor, Accra and Adentan, Accra and Tema and Accra and Kasoa.

The new transport system is also to improve vehicular movement and reduce delays on some busy roads.

But, addressing a press briefing Wednesday, Spokesperson for the drivers, Francis Appiah said the move will eventually kick them out of jobs.

“The route where the rapid bus will pass, we the commercial drivers cannot use that route. They are also going to move the drivers from Circle to Achimota new station and create a new station and bus stop for the rapid bus which is unfair to us,” he said.

He argued that “all these are attempts by government to kick us out of business and we won’t allow ourselves to be treated this way, hence our strike come Monday, September 19, 2016.”