The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has said it has put on hold its supposed strike action that would have occurred today, Monday 6 December, 2021. The Industrial Relations Officer of the GPRTU in the Upper East Region Nashiru Mohammed said the suspension of the strike action became necessary after the leadership of the Union met with the government and came to a consensus. Mr Nashiru Mohammed confirmed this to A1 Radio on Day Break Upper East.
GPRTU was founded in May 1967 to protect the interest of drivers, porters, guards and vehicle owners in the country. For some, questions have been raised whether the GPRTU is following through with its mandate.
Background
The Coalition of Commercial Transport Owners announced its intention to embark on a nationwide indefinite strike beginning today, December 6, as part of measures to compel the government to scrap some taxes on fuel to enable reduction at the pumps.
The group asked its members to put on red armbands to register their displeasure with the government.
The coalition of private transport operators consists of Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), Association of Tipper Truck Drivers, Harbor Transport Owners, Ghana National Cargo Transport Association, Ghana Committed Drivers Association, Concerned Drivers Association, Digital Drivers, Commercial motorbike riders, popularly referred to as Okada, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers among others.
Speaking on JoyNews, the group’s spokesperson, Abass Imoro noted that the government must find a lasting solution to the hikes in fuel prices.
“We started this crusade for about two weeks now, we have applied all humble measures to this. Each time we come out with our program, government authority steps in, oh wait, give us time then we will reverse whatever decision we have taken. Not once, not twice but thrice or four times hence our people started accusing us that we are not good leaders,” he said on Sunday.
“Looking at the current economy in which we are, we researched and find out that there is a way out. There are some taxes and levies and margins that can be scrapped out which will reduce the pump price for all of us to alleviate us from the current suffering,” he stated.
Abass Imoro urged the government to scrap off taxes like the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy, Special Petroleum Tax, the Energy Recovery Debt Levy and the Sanitation levy.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana
