GPRTU not a political organ - IRO

Akrofuom (Ash), April 28, GNA - An Industrial Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Ashanti, has described as erroneous the widely held perception that the union is a political organ. Mr Bruce Kuffour, who made the statement, stressed that the union was not partisan in anyway but just a pressure group with an avowed aim to seek the interest and welfare of its members, whiles also providing efficient private sector transport services.

He was inaugurating a transport terminal sponsored by the union at Akrofuom in the Adansi South District of Ashanti on Tuesday. The IRO said the GPRTU had now re-positioned itself to be more proactive and to see to the improvement of the lifestyle of its members, adding, "the days when we attended only funerals belong to history". To this end, Mr Kuffour said the union has acquired a large tract of land to be sold to its members, who would be made to pay back through a very friendly arrangement to enable them build their own houses. Mr Francis Dorpenyoh, the Adansi South District Chief Executive, commended the local executive of the union for using their own resources to provide the facility.

He called on drivers to respect and harmonise relationship with the executives to help improve transportation in the area. The DCE appealed to the people in the area not to fight indiscipline drivers on the road but report them to their respective local unions for sanctions to be taken against them.