Agona Swedru, Feb. 27, GNA - Members of the three transport Unions in the Agona District on Tuesday prevented the Metro Mass Transit buses from picking passengers at its loading point at Agona Swedru. The action followed the breach of agreement entered with the Agona District Security Council, Authorities of the Agona District Assembly and the Union Members to stop the buses from loading at the road side instead of its terminus.
According to the chairmen of the unions, Opanyin Kweku Dauda, Agona District, Mr Isaac Otoo, Swedru/Accra, Nana Yaw Yayah, Swedru PROTOA and Mr George Obeng, Co-operative Transport Union, two years ago the members complained about the place where Metro Mass buses were loading. Mr Otoo said a petition was sent to the Assembly and the District Security Council to lodge a protest against the loading point of the buses.
He explained that protest against the buses was that their operation had denied the three union members of their source of livelihood and in November, 2007, the District Security Council and District Assembly fixed February 15, 2008 for the buses to be removed from that station to ensure peace and stability.
Mr Otoo noted that the deadline had elapsed and the buses were still loading at the place they had kicked against, adding that this prompted them to move from their various stations to load on the road side. He said two years now, allowances of the executives and other members of the three transport unions had not been paid for lack of passengers.
Mr Otoo stated the union members appreciated the presence of the Metro Mass Transit Buses at Agona Swedru, because it has brought competition into the transport sector business, but they wanted the management of Metro Mass to move to their yard at the Mandela Market. He declared that the members would continue to protest against the loading point of the buses until it moved to its yard because three transport unions had been starved for far too long , adding; "we cannot pay our utilities bills, school fees and other taxes."
Mr. Otoo commended Mr Samuel Kweku Obodai, Deputy Central Regional Minister and MP for Agona West for his prompt response to their plight and appealed to him to help find a lasting solution to the problem.
