Members of the Ghana Concerned Drivers Association have declared a nationwide strike action, which will take effect from Monday, 19th September, 2016.
At a press conference yesterday, Chairman of the Association, Charles Danso said “this impending action has become necessary following what we consider as events inimical to our work as commercial drivers and members of the Ghana Committed Drivers Association.”
It follows government’s intention to roll out the Bus Rapid Transit Service (BRTS).
As part of BRTS, some lanes on the country’s roads are expected to be reserved for only these buses, with plans to remove some of these drivers from their current lorry stations.
Commercial drivers at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle are expected to be relocated to the new Achimota Lorry Station while commercial drivers operating from the Tema Station would be relocated to the Hearts Park in Accra, and the 37 Military Lorry Station to be moved to the Kawukudi Park at Maamobi.
This is unfair business practice since it would limit our operations, we will not be allowed to operate in major commercial centers such as Accra Central, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, Kaneshie, etc.”
The commercial areas would be reserved for the BRTS buses.
The commercial drivers also complained of astronomical increase in insurance premiums.
Commercial vehicle insurance premium was increased from GH¢70.00 in January 2015 to GH¢470.00 by government.
According to the drivers, “Despite several meetings with the relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport and the National Insurance Commission, our request for a reasonable insurance premium has fallen on deaf ears.”
They expressed the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU), which collaborated with the association to campaign against the increases in insurance premiums, have suddenly abandoned the cause.
Members of the association also expressed worry about the operations of a U.S cab service provider, Uber Transport Company Limited.
“Conditions under which Uber Transport Company operates in the country gives them unfair business advantage over local commercial drivers. For instance, they do not pay commercial rates for Road Worthiness certificates and Vehicle insurance. Additionally, they are exempt from paying metropolitan and municipal vehicle income tax. These freebies offered Uber Transport Company enables it to charge transport fares way below the ideal economic rates, thus putting us, the local commercial drivers, at a disadvantage,” Mr Danso declared.
For them, “The above-stated events are totally inimical to all commercial drivers in this country. Government has failed to consult us on these matters and in instances where we have made attempts to make inputs, we have been rebuffed.
“It’s obvious that the only voice the government considers worth paying attention to is a strike action. Accordingly, the Ghana Committed Drivers Association (GCDA) will on Monday, September 19th, 2016 declare a nationwide strike action to drive home our demand for the government of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama to heed our concerns,” Chairman of the Association added.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu