Upper West GPRTU holds delegates congress

Wa, Aug. 18, GNA - The Upper West Regional branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Saturday held its fifth delegates congress at Wa and elected new executives.

In the election supervised by officials of the National Electoral Commission, Mr Mahamudu Iddrisu was declared unopposed as the new Regional Chairman.

Mr Abudu Bukari Gana beat Alhaji Seidu Mahama by 23 votes to 13 to become the Vice-Chairman, while Mr Nuhu Mankama polled 21 votes as against 15 by Alhaji Adamu Osman in a run-off for the post of First Trustee after both contestants had polled 18 votes apiece in the first ballot.

Alhaji Abdul-Aziz Adam received 25 votes to elbow out Mr Salifu Iddrisu in the race for Second Trustee.

Mr Peter Egya Ansah, Deputy General Secretary in-charge of Operations, who swore the new executive members into office advised them to live above reproach and protect the interests of the union at all times.

Addressing the delegates before the election, Mr. Sidik Alandu, Deputy General Secretary (Finance and Administration), urged the members to accept the new Vehicle Income Tax (VIT) because it is more convenient.

He said the old system was abused and as a result, even half of the targets set for the union were never met.

Mr Alandu said it is evident that the weekly market day system prevailing in the region is making it difficult for some members to pay the new tax, but added that the region cannot be given a special dispensation under a law enacted for the whole country. Light cargo vehicle drivers in the region at a news conference at Wa last month, appealed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to make the tax affordable to them by reducing it from 994,000 cedis to 648,000 cedis.