In response to the recent disruptions being experienced by intra-city commuters, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku Agyemang has visited the Ministry of Transport for an emergency engagement on behalf of His Excellency, President John Dramani Mahama, together with key stakeholders in the transport sector. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Transport and his Deputy, as well as the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs and his Deputy. Also present were major transport unions and driver associations, including the GPRTU, the Ghana Road Transport Coordination Council, the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, the Ghana Committed Drivers Association, and the National Cargo Drivers Association.
She said, discussions were held to , ”fully understand the causes of the current situation and to identify practical, lasting solutions that will restore order and ensure that commuters can move safely and efficiently”.
”From our discussions, it was established that a major contributing factor to the challenges confronting the sector is the lack of retooling and replacement of vehicles, which has placed severe strain on an already depleting fleet”. Furthermore, ”the sector has been under pressure for years with a growing population, and the current difficulties reflect a system that has now reached a critical point”.
She appealed for calm while the issue is being resolved.
”Government is fully aware that this is a difficult time for commuters and transport operators alike, it is therefore important that we respond with shared responsibility, national concern, and a clear commitment to solutions, rather than blame”.
She said, ”the transport unions noted that for the past decade, they had received no major retooling support, a situation that has steadily weakened their capacity to deliver reliable services to the public”.
In response, His Excellency President Mahama has assured the unions of Government’s commitment to support retooling efforts, including the provision of new vehicles, as part of a plan to modernize and expand transport services across the country.
”At the same time, Government expects transport unions to take greater responsibility in monitoring their members to ensure that commuters are treated with dignity, fairness, and respect, especially during this period.
According to Vice President Naana Jane, the engagement signals Government’s determination to tackle this challenge through cooperation between the Ministry, transport unions, and other relevant institutions.
”We remain confident that through continued dialogue and decisive action, we will arrive at a lasting solution”, she articulated.
