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GRC loses haulage monopoly of
minerals to trucks
Ketan(WR), Aug. 8, Ghanadot/GNA - Ghana Railway Company (GRC)lost
its monopoly on the haulage of Manganese and Bauxite after
the month-long strike action by its workers.
Mr Kwame Boadi Amofah, Managing Director of GRC who
announced this said the strike action compelled major
customers of the company to resort to road transport that
had affected its operations.
He was addressing the Ninth Quadrennial National Delegates
Conference of Railway Enginemen’s Union (REU) of Ghana
Trades Union Congress (GTUC) at Ketan.
It is under the theme “Revamping Rail Transport: The Role of
Stakeholders”.
Me Amofah explained that to ensure early transportation of
the minerals, the companies resorted to road haulage and GRC
must now compete with them, although discussions were
ongoing to revert to railway services which was far cheaper,
nothing positive had been achieved.
He urged leadership of the union to provide good leadership
to enable workers increase productivity and the need for all
railway workers to be abreast with the rapidly changing
technology in rail service.
Mr Amofah advised them to refrain from acts that could cause
undue delay to scheduled movement of trains because the
company could only achieve its targets when customers had
confidence in their operations.
Mr Emmanuel Donkoh, Acting General Secretary of the Union
said though the company was facing many challenges including
financial, technical and administrative, it was ready to
meet those challenges.
He said though the company had been described as a moribund
organisation, the union would endeavour to turn its fortunes
around since rail transport was cheaper, environmentally
friendly and efficient.
Mr Donkoh appealed to Government to provide the needed
investment to revamp the rail sector to ensure the focus on
regional integration could receive a massive boost.
He said the outstanding 50 per cent severance award for 670
workers retrenched should be paid without any further delay.
Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikadu Traditional Area
said plans were underway to restore the European Town
Railway Station as a Railway Museum.
He said efforts were being made to re-vamp idle lands in
Sekondi and appealed to stakeholders to make efforts to make
the company vibrant.
GNA
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