Truck drivers at GPHA refuse evacuation to Kpong

When the minister got to the truck park, a large crowd of truck drivers had gathered there shouting and waiting to send their petition and plea to her.

The General Secretary of JAPSU, Mr Saliah Adams, who set the tone for the discussions, said their evacuation from the Tema Harbour would affect their operations.

According to him, “after all these years of dedicated and selfless service to win this country the gateway status, our reward now, as we speak, is to vacate here, latest by June, to a rented private property for a period of 10 years with a parking capacity for only 750 trucks when we have more than 2,000 trucks”.

Mr Adams said over the past years truck drivers in the country had devoted time and resources to carry food items from both far and near to feed Ghana and for export, yet their welfare had received little attention from government.

“All the intended beautiful stories told us about a truck village with rest rooms and other requirements to make life meaningful merely disappeared from the drawing board of the port whose interest we have served, starting with five-tonne wooden trucks to what we see around us today,” he said.

Ms Attivor, who had no knowledge of what was happening at the truck park, succeeded in calming the drivers and promised to ensure the peaceful settlement of the issues.

“I only came to have a chat with you concerning some of your struggles but I never knew about the fact that you have been given up to June this year to move to Kpong. Although I am not fully aware of the details of the situation, I am sure the management of the GPHA has your best interest at heart,” she said.

Ms Attivor advised the drivers to desist from their intention to embark on a strike, as it would not solve any problem but rather worsen the situation.

She assured the drivers that her ministry would dig into the matter properly and come up with the best alternative for them, adding, “Until then, you must not engage in any act of indiscipline but rather comply with the instruction of the GPHA.”

Ms Attivor expressed worry over the attitude of some truck drivers on the road, especially during the  Easter festivities, and stressed the need for them to adhere to road safety measures to prevent loss of lives and property.

Story by Dominic Moses Awiah