We cannot join Eurica garages - Association

Techiman, Jan. 24, GNA - Techiman branch of Ghana National Association of Garages has disassociated itself from the newly formed Eurica Garages at Tuobodom in the municipality. At a meeting at Kenten in Techiman, the executives said the association, which was established in Techiman in 1972, had no intention of joining the new body.

Mr. Thomas Effah, chairman and Mr. Sadick Amoateng, secretary, said the association's aim for acquiring the 40-acre land at Kenten in 1972 was to train school dropouts in collaboration with Rural Technology Service Center of the Business Advocacy Center.

Mr. Effah said the more than 1,000 master craftsmen who formed the association had trained about 1,350 school dropouts since 1993. "Since 1972 the association has continued to pay artisan fees, property rates as well as income tax to the government and the municipal assembly and we see no reason why we should be ejected from the place to join a new association", the chairman said. Mr. Effah cautioned executives of Eurica Garages not to meddle in the affairs of the association, "since we do not harbour any ill feelings against them because we are a well organized and recognized organization".

He said the association had extended its activities to some parts of Ashanti and the three northern regions. "We have also spent millions of cedis to put up structures for our workforce and to move away from the area to join a new organization will be a disservice to them and the country as a whole.'' Mr. Amoateng advised members to remain calm even in the face of provocation while a lasting solution was pursued and that rumours that they had a problem with the police was unfounded. "We are a law-abiding association and will not do anything to undermine the peace in the municipality", he said.