GPRTU, GRTCC call off planned sit-down strike after meeting with gov't

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) have called off their planned sit-down strike over the government's failure to clear trading activities from road corridors.

The planned strike, announced in a statement dated November 2, was in protest against what the operators described as the failure of authorities to clear trading activities from roadways.

The decision to call off the action follows a meeting between the leadership of the two transport groups and the Ministers of the Interior, Transport, and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs on Tuesday, November 3.

The ministers reportedly assured the operators of their commitment to address their concerns, including trading activities along road corridors, inadequate road signage and the need for sustained public education.

In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, November 4, the two groups said a committee had been established to identify areas affected by the concerns and recommend appropriate measures.

“The Ministers assured us of their firm commitments to address our concerns, including the trading activities on road corridors, adequate signage, sustained public education and continued engagement with transport operators,” the statement read in part.

The transport operators, however, cautioned that the suspension of the planned industrial action is conditional on the government's commitment to resolving the concerns within 30 days.

They cautioned that failure to address the issues within the period would leave them with no option but to proceed with the sit-down strike.

“It is our expectation that all our concerns raised during the meeting will be addressed within 30 days, failure of which we would have no option than to embark on the sit-down strike,” the statement added.