Commuters in Wa, the Upper West Regional Capital have been left stranded as drivers at the Wa Central Lorry station embark on their sit-down strike. When A1 Radio visited the station, the drivers with red bands on their arms and wrists refused to cater to the needs of the commuters who had appeared at the station in their bid to be transported to their various locations.
Some of the commuters expressed their frustrations saying that they were not aware of the impending strike and thus could not arrange for alternative means of transportation to carry out their various businesses. Meanwhile, the drivers explained that they wanted their needs to be met by government before they resumed work. One of the leaders of tricycle users at Wa explained that due to the continuous rise in fuel prices, vehicle owners are fighting a losing battle as they are unable to make profit.
Vehicle operators who decided to work despite the sit-down strike were initially hindered by their striking counterparts. It took the intervention of the Ghana Police Service for those who wanted to work be allowed to work.
Meanwhile, the Upper East Regional Chapter of 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.
Source: A1radioonline.com|101.1 MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Ghana
