The Railway Workers Union has threatened to discontinue its passenger services from Accra to Tema and Takoradi to Kojokrom effective, August 22.
According to the union, it has over the years complained about the Railway Act, Act 779, which among other things transfers the assets hitherto under the care of Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) to the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) . It revealed that series of appeals for this Act to be reviewed, since GRCL continues to be a growing concern has so far not yielded the desired results.
General Secretary of the Railway Workers Union, Godwill Ntarmah, revealed that in view of this, the leadership of the Union is left with no option than to say “enough is enough” and go ahead with its plans.
“If the Ministry of Railways Development does not call GRDA to order and ensure an amicable solution to the challenges which the Ministry is already aware of, as well as other challenges, the two passenger services (i.e.) Accra to Tema and Takoradi to Kojokrom will from Monday 22nd August, 2022, seize running as we can no longer borrow money to support such operations.”
Godwill Ntarmah
Mr Ntarmah indicated that the leadership has arrived at this decision because GRCL feels neglected and the “centre can no longer hold”.
Challenges confronting railway workers
Elaborating on some of the actions that are against the Ghana Railway Company Limited, Mr Ntarmah revealed that the Ghana Railway Development Authority has taken undue advantage of the railway Act and are “perpetrating acts that are detrimental to the survival” of Ghana Railway Company Limited. He noted that issues such as supervising and loading of three trucks load of scraps of rails and sleepers at Kase in the Ashanti Region for sale and a recent directive to take over some bungalows at Kumasi by 31st August, 2022, in spite of the fact that officials of GRCL and their families occupy such Bungalows has been a problem to the union.
Additionally, he stated that denial of the GRCL from collecting rents on the operators who are on railway lands as previously being done by GRCL and the attempt to load and dispose of scraps of rails and sleepers at Kumasi railway station on 9th August, 2022, something the railway workers at Kumasi fiercely resisted and it’s hanging currently, has posed similar problems to the union.
“We are very much aware of a directive from the Hon. Minister for Railways Development for all scraps to be collated and a Public Auction made to dispose of it, so why the piece meal approach for its disposal and sale. It must be noted that in all these arrangements, the interest of the GRCL is not considered.”
Godwill Ntarmah
Currently, Mr Ntarmah expressed that the GRCL is “heavily indebted” to a number of institutions as it sometimes borrows from the Banks and its major client, the Ghana Manganese Company, to effect payment of salaries and purchase of fuel. More so, he stated that payment for June and July salaries were paid on August 11, 2022.
“Adding to the above, the GRCL is operating the shuttle service from Accra to Tema and Kojokrom to Takoradi at a loss as those services are considered more of a social service than a commercial venture without any support from any angle to even purchase fuel for such operations.”
Godwill Ntarmah
The GRCL, Mr Ntarmah highlighted, could have taken advantage of the sale of scraps and collecting of rents to support its operations if the assets were to be in its care.
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