Arrest Swedru/Accra GPRTU executives - Assembly orders

Agona Swedru, July 2, GNA - The Agona District Assembly has ordered the arrest of the executives of the Swedru/Accra branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union for the alleged assault of the Chairman of the Justice and Security Sub-committee of the Assembly over an argument over lorry fares.

Mr Emmanuel Boateng, Assemblyman for Agona Nyakrom, moved the motion after Mr Emmanuel Owusu-Annor, Assemblyman for Asessim, had questioned the Presiding Member, Alhaji Osumau Abeka and Mr Ben Mensah, District Chief Executive (DCE), over the action that had been taken against the executives for failing to produce the person who assaulted Mr Douglas Kwesi Gyebi, Chairman of the Sub-Committee. This was after the Assembly Members had expressed misgivings over the refusal of the executives to identify the one who assaulted Mr Gyebi at the third ordinary session of the Assembly at Agona Swedru. After deliberating on the matter a motion was moved to take punitive action against the GPRTU officials and the Police was ordered to arrest them.

The Assembly Members also asked the DCE to write to the GPRTU to vacate the main lorry park because of the disrespect they showed for authority for the Metro Mass Transit buses to use to reduce the suffering of passengers. They stated that since the GPRTU was not law abiding, the Metro Mass buses should use the lorry park and charge the approved fares. It would be recalled that last month Mr Gyebi, was attacked and assaulted by the some drivers of the Union when he questioned the arbitrary increase of lorry fares following the recent increase in the prices of petroleum products.

Mr Mensah explained that he gave a seven-day ultimatum to the GPRTU executives to produce the one who assaulted Mr Gyebi or he would order the arrest of the officials. 02 Jul 06