The leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), and the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Committee (GRTCC), on Wednesday, February 22, 2017, paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to congratulate him on his victory in the December 7, 2016, elections.
Accompanied by the Minister for Transport, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, the leadership of the unions, led by GPRTU National Chairman, Mr. Kwame Kuma, pledged their support for the government of President Akufo-Addo, assuring him of their full co-operation and the desire for him to succeed during his tenure of office.
Outlining their priority concerns, the GPRTU Chairman indicated that the prices of fuel and its ripple effects on transportation costs constituted a major issue for members of the association, as well as commuters.
He, thus urged, the President to address this issue.
Mr. Kwame Kuma also appealed to the President to return to the Union a parcel of land situated at Okponglo, near Madina. This parcel of land, according to the Chairman, had been annexed by the State, and therefore, appealed for its replacement, as the Union has plans of building its national headquarters on the annexed parcel land.
He indicated further that the previous government, in June 2016, acceded to their request, but could not effect the replacement before the change in government, and appealed for the replacement under the Presidency of Nana Akufo-Addo.
On his part, President Akufo-Addo thanked the leadership of the GPRTU and heads of other Transport Unions, for the courtesy of their visit.
On the issue of fuel prices, the President assured them that the first budget of his government, which will be delivered by the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, on March 2, will outline the interventions government will put in place over fuel prices.
President Akufo-Addo also indicated to the GPRTU that he will speedily look into the matter regarding the replacement of their parcel of land at Okponglo.
With his government committed to the revival of the Ghanaian economy, President Akufo-Addo indicated that his vision of creating an industrialised Ghana will require the active support of all sectors of the Ghanaian economy, especially the transport sector.
“When the economy is revived and is growing, you in the transport sector will be major beneficiaries. I want you to help and support me fully so we achieve this vision of a prosperous Ghana. Have it at the back of your minds that you are all stakeholders in the development of our country. Ghana is not a poor country. God has endowed us with all the human and natural resources needed to develop, and, in our time, we must recognize this vision of a progressive, prosperous nation our forebears dreamt of,” the President added.
