B/A drivers embark on strike

Sunyani (Brong Ahafo) 18 May ?99

Travellers in Brong Ahafo Region were on Monday stranded following a strike action embarked upon by members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in the region.

Their action is in protest against the purported wholesale re-testing and re-licensing of drivers in the country and a recent letter from the regional branch of the Road Safety Committee asking all the drivers to attend a refresher course at the cost of 70,000 cedis each.

At Sunyani where the strike was most intense, a detachment of Police and Military personnel had to be deployed to dismantle a number of road blocks, mounted by some of the striking drivers.

Travellers arriving from various parts of the region by private cars spoke of similar actions by drivers in the other districts thus forcing most vehicles to make long detours.

Most commuters in Sunyani and other big towns in the region, therefore, had to walk to their various workplaces, while those staying far away had to stay at home.

The drivers embarked on the demonstrations, even though, the Regional Executives of the Union told them that the refresher course which was to be organised by the Regional Road Safety Committee had been cancelled.

A number of drivers, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency said the demonstration was to protest in the strongest of terms against the intended re-testing and re-licensing of drivers, which they claimed would cost them substantial amount of money and their time.

They vowed not to go back to the road, unless they received firm assurances from the government that some categories of drivers would be exempted from the exercise.

Some residents, however, condemned picketing drivers for using force to prevent other commercial and private cars from plying the road.

Meanwhile, the Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC), which has appealed to the drivers to rescind their decision, was meeting at the time of filing this report to discuss the strike action by the drivers.

Official of the GPRTU could not be reached for their comments because they were attending the RCC meeting.