A threatened sit-down strike by port transport drivers has been averted following a productive emergency meeting between the Joint Association of Port Transport Drivers (JAPTU) Ghana and the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA).
The strike, which had been planned in protest against new regulatory measures affecting port transport operators, was called off after both parties reached a consensus on the key issues that had sparked the standoff.
Speaking to Citi News on Monday, April 13, JAPTU’s Executive Secretary Ibrahim Musah explained that a critical clarification from the government played a decisive role in resolving the tension. Drivers had harboured concerns that the GSA’s planned registration exercise was aimed at individual operators, a prospect that had alarmed many within the sector.
Those fears, Musah said, were put to rest. The government made clear that the registration exercise targets corporate transport entities, not individual drivers. That single clarification, he noted, addressed one of the most significant grievances that had been driving JAPTU toward industrial action.
With the assurance on the table, JAPTU’s leadership announced its decision to withdraw the strike in the interest of continued dialogue and constructive engagement.
The agreement reached goes beyond simply standing down the strike. As part of the understanding between the two parties, the Ghana Shippers’ Authority is expected to facilitate further discussions between JAPTU and the Minister of Roads and Highways on concerns surrounding the new axle load control regime, an issue that remains a live concern for transport operators.
JAPTU’s leadership expressed optimism that the ongoing engagements will lead to a more inclusive approach to policy implementation within the transport sector, signalling a shift from confrontation to collaboration.
Musah was generous in his praise for how the GSA handled the situation. “The leadership of JAPTU Ghana is happy to announce that we are calling off our intended sit-down strike after a very fruitful dialogue session with the leadership of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority,” he said.
“We want to also take this opportunity to commend the Chief Executive of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority and his team members for the swift manner in which they reacted to the concern that we brought up,” he added.
The resolution is expected to ease tensions across the port transport industry and ensure the smooth movement of goods through Ghana’s ports as consultations between all parties continue.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com