By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim Moro, has announced that commercial drivers across the country will embark on a nationwide strike starting Monday. As a result, no commercial vehicles, including trotros and taxis, will operate on that day.
According to Alhaji Moro, the strike is the union’s way of supporting the government’s “Reset the Country” initiative, with a focus on road safety and the enforcement of existing traffic laws. He explained that the union seeks to work with authorities to remove unregistered drivers who arbitrarily increase fares during peak hours and ensure that all commercial vehicle operators are affiliated with recognized associations.
“This is our own way of helping to reset the country, as President Mahama seeks to reset Ghana,” he said.
Speaking on the GTV Breakfast Show, Alhaji Moro said the decision to strike stems from ongoing frustrations over what he described as a lack of protection for drivers. He cited instances where drivers are penalised not for their own actions but due to roadside traders and hawkers who create dangerous conditions.
“Those who sell along the roadside do not even realise how dangerous it is to their safety. They could be run over, not intentionally but because of a mechanical fault in a vehicle,” he noted.
Alhaji Moro clarified that the union is not calling for a ban on hawking altogether but is urging authorities to enforce existing laws regulating roadside trading. Under current laws, offenders risk a fine of 50 penalty units or up to three months in jail.
‘’What we want from the strike is for those in Authority to respect us as professional drivers and see wisdom in whatever we say. We want to be protected so hawkers should be taken off the street,’’ Alhaji Moro said.
The duration of the strike, he said, will depend on how authorities respond to their concerns. The GPRTU is seeking acknowledgment and action to address their demands, especially regarding safety and regulation enforcement.
Alhaji Moro also urged private car owners to join the strike, stressing that enhanced road safety would benefit all road users, not just commercial drivers. He said the union may call off the strike if authorities commit to meaningful action, particularly the removal of hawkers from roadways.
