Ministry of Transport urged to produce Transport Policy

Accra, May 18, GNA - The General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU), has called on the Ministry of Transportation and other stakeholders in the industry to expedite action on the Transport Policy document to provide the relevant information to road users on their operations.

In a statement in Accra, signed the General Secretary of the Union, Mr E A Mensah, also stressed the need for the Ministry, employers in road transport organisations, the Department of Vehicle Licensing Authority and National Unions in the road transport sector, non-governmental organisations to pull their resources towards educating drivers and other road users.

Commenting on the accident involving an Intercity STC bus and a Mercedes Benz 207 bus on the Kumasi - Sunyani highway, which claimed about 35 lives, said was a source of worry to stakeholders in the transport industry and the nation.

It said the carnage on the roads were caused mainly by reckless driving and indiscipline on the roads was a matter of grave concern to the National Road Safety Commission, GTPCWU, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Police and other bodies in the industry during their education programmes for road users.

While these education programmes were still going on it was surprising that the rate of accidents continue to increase. The GTPCWU called on stakeholders in the industry to organise a forum to discuss the accidents, which occur at regular intervals to minimise and eradicate the menace.

It stated that even though diseases like HIV/AIDS and other diseases were claiming lives, road accidents were far taking more lives and extended its sympathy to the management and staff of the Intercity STC Coaches Limited and the families of the bereaved families for the loss of their loved ones.