Hot Source…To rescind Thursday’s strike decision
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) states that it will only call off its planned sit-down strike, if the government resumes repair work on the severely deteriorated Pokuase–Nsawam road, an international route used by vehicles travelling to and from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
On Saturday, August 16, the National Deputy Public Relations Officer of the union, Samuel Amoah, reiterated that the union is not backing down until contractors return to the site.
The project, undertaken by Maripoma Enterprise Limited, a local construction firm, is funded by the Government of Ghana at a cost of GH¢341.48 million. However, others have quoted a project cost of $346.5 million.
Work on the 33.4-kilometre international road linking Ofankor to Nsawam, part of the Accra–Kumasi road (National Route 6), has stalled because Maripoma Enterprise Limitedis said to have moved its equipment from the project site at Amasaman.
“The only thing that will make us change our mind is to see the contractors going back to the road. That is the only thing because when we approached Honourable Agbodza he gave us his word that he is giving us only six weeks. That monies have been released. The question is what is the change,” he said.
Mr. Amoah explained that the union had already issued a one-week ultimatum to the government, which ends on Wednesday, August 20.
“If you check our release we said that we will park the vehicles till we see the government sending the contractors on the roads… We gave the government one week, which will elapse on Wednesday, so after Wednesday, then we kick it off… It is not a demonstration, it is a sit-down strike,” he added.
The GPRTU, together with the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) and other stakeholders, earlier described the current condition of the road as “deplorable and dangerous.” The poor state of the stretch, they said, has led to rising vehicle maintenance costs, frequent breakdowns, and safety risks for passengers and drivers.
The Pokuase–Nsawam stretch is a major highway linking Greater Accra to the Eastern, Ashanti, and northern regions of Ghana. Transport operators argue that the road’s continued neglect is disrupting economic activity and placing undue burdens on commuters.
Despite assurances from the Roads and Highways Minister that the road would be fixed within six weeks, transport unions say no visible progress has been made — hence the planned strike.
The unions are calling on residents, commuters, and all road users affected by the poor road conditions to support their action as part of a broader civic push to hold the government accountable.
The commercial transport operators issued a one-week ultimatum to the Ministry of Roads and Highways on Thursday, demanding that the deteriorating Pokuase–Nsawam road be repaired or face a mass protest that could result in the grounding of vehicles.
In a joint statement signed by leaders of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the TUC, the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), and other commercial driver groups, the operators described the stretch as “unmotorable” and “extremely dangerous” to motorists, commuters, and residents.
The Commercial drivers had stated that the poor state of the road had not only increased travel time but also imposed heavy operational costs on drivers, who are forced to carry out frequent repairs and replace parts more frequently, ultimately reducing the lifespan of their vehicles.
“The situation has become a predicament not only for commercial transport operators but all motorists using the road to destinations near and far, including Eastern, Ashanti and other northern regions, impacting daily lives and economic activities,” the statement read.
According to the group, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, had earlier assured them during a meeting that the road would be put in satisfactory condition within six weeks, but the deadline had long passed without any improvement.
They are therefore demanding urgent intervention, warning that failure to act will result in a protest “until our concerns are addressed.”
The transport unions also called on all motorists, commuters and residents affected by the situation to join the planned protest as a civic duty to compel authorities to act.
The statement was signed by Emmanuel Nii Ankrah, National Vice and Greater Accra Regional Chairman of GPRTU of TUC; Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim Moro, National PRO of GRTCC; Alhaji Tanko, National Chairman of GPRTU of TUC; Samuel Amoah, National Deputy PRO of the Concern Drivers Association of Ghana; Paa Willie, National Chairman of the Concern Drivers Association of Ghana; David Agboado, National PRO of the True Drivers Union; Yaw Barima, National PRO of the Commercial Transport Operators; and Asonaba Nana Owiredu.
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