OVER THOUSAND drivers of haulage trucks and agents at the Tema Port are stranded at the transit terminal of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in Tema.
The transit drivers who convey goods from the Tema Port to other African countries are accusing port authorities for the unnecessary delays at the transit yard.
They were of the view that the delays have been occasioned by shortage of a tracking device.
The tracking device is fixed onto haulage trucks which load goods from the Tema Port en route to countries like Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
This enables the authorities to monitor the tracks to ensure that the goods were delivered at the right destination.
However, GCNet, the company contracted by the GPHA to do the tracking has ran out of the device thus rendering over 200 trucks fully loaded with goods grounded for several weeks at the transit yard.
Speaking to the media during a visit by the Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister of Transport, the angry drivers and agents accused the operators of corruption.
Hamzah Atta Bandangnya, a truck agent told the DAILY GUIDE during the visit in an interview that the company contracted to issue the tracking device has been doing so based on favoritism.
According to him, “They give the tracking device to people they know leaving others stranded and that affects the image of Ghana because the victims will accuse Ghana of not hindering a good service and may decide to use other ports.”
He said the delay is creating huge losses for them since they end up making unnecessary expenditures.
He appealed to the government to ensure the devices are given out fairly to ensure a good service at the port to redeem Ghana’s image.
Minister for Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio Garbrah who expressed concern about the plight of the drivers assured them that the company has taken delivery of new devices and would soon fix them to enable them move out.
From Vincent Kubi, Tema