Swedru/Accra GPRTU Executives to face DISEC

Agona Swedru, June 4, GNA - The executives of the Swedru/Accra branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and Mr. Ekow Mensah, a ticket seller, have been summoned to appear before the Agona District Security Council (DISEC) on Monday, 5 June, 2006 over the alleged assault of Nana Kwesi Gyebi, an Assemblyman. This follows a complain by Nana Gyebi, to the Police at Swedru for his alleged assault by some drivers at the Swedru/Accra station after an argument over the fare from Swedru to Accra.

Mr. B.B. Bakomora, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) in charge of the Agona District, who made this known to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr. Ben Mensah, who is the Chairman of the DISEC, had directed the Police to invite the executives to appear before the Council.

He noted that Nana Gyebi, who is a member of the DISEC and took part in the meeting that fixed the new lorry fares last month. Narrating his story to the GNA at Swedru, Nana Gyebi stated that his daughter who was traveling went to the Swedru/Accra station to buy a ticket and when he asked to see the face value, he found to his surprise that the fare was 11,000 Cedis instead of 10,500 cedis.

He then went to the ticket seller and asked him why he was selling the ticket for 11,000 cedis but he started insulting him with some drivers.

The Assemblyman who is also the Justice and Security Sub-committee Chairman of the Assembly said one of the GPRTU officials offered him a seat and all of a sudden one of the union members pushed him down sustaining a minor injury process.

Nana Gyebi said he lodged a complain to the Police but the executives of the branch next day attempted to settle the matter and allegedly attempted to bribe him with 100,000 cedis to drop the matter but he officially reported the case to the DCE.

Investigation conducted by the GNA indicated that drivers in and around Agona Swedru were charging more than the approved fares, which had become a source of worry to passengers.

Mr. Isaac Otoo, the Swedru/Accra branch Chairman of the GPRTU, told the GNA that the executives were finding it difficult to control the drivers, who want to stage a demonstration and withdraw their services in protest against the new lorry fares.

He stated that the person who pushed Nana Gyebi down was not a member of the union and said the executives had lodged their displeasure to the DCE about the fares.