GPRTU petitions Mahama over Dangote

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has petitioned the Mahama government to intervene and stop Nigerian business magnet, Aliko Dangote, from taking over the transport business, which is employing thousands of Ghanaian drivers and other ancillary staff.

The petition came in the wake of Dangote importing into the country, one thousand trucks to facilitate the distribution of its cement across the country, instead of relying on local transporters, as other cement manufacturing companies are doing.

A letter dated 25th July, 2016, and signed by Mr Sai Issah, Chairman of a Tema branch of the union to the Ghanaian authorities noted that GPRTU is not against the business tycoon investing in Ghana, but he must not be seen to be pushing locals out of their businesses.

According to the letter, apart from the truck owners who are directly affected, artisans such as mechanics, auto electricians, welders and spare parts dealers who keep their vehicles running will all be thrown out of business to the detriment of the citizenry.

The worried truck owners said as transporters, they often go for loans from the commercial banks to cushion their business, pay insurance premium and other taxes, only to be rendered jobless by the emergence of Dangote in an industry reserved for only Ghanaian citizens.

On the other hand, the truck owners have said that they are prepared to enter into agreement with Dangote to purchase his imported vehicles to cart the cement anywhere in the country for him, rather than being compelled to re-export from the country.

Dangote cement, about a decade ago obtained license as Greenview Cement to bag powdered cement in the country, but for some months now is engaging in the importation of bagged cement from Nigeria, a situation which is creating friction between the company and the local cement manufacturers.