The office of the Inter-Party Affairs and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) Directorate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by Dr. Peter Boamah Otokunor, recently engaged with the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) in a meeting held at the Union office of GTPCWU.
This engagement aimed to address various pressing issues affecting workers under the Union’s jurisdiction and to discuss the NDC’s plans and commitments for the future.
The GTPCWU represents employees across multiple sectors, including transport, petroleum, and chemical industries, covering both junior and senior staff, as well as professional and managerial personnel throughout Ghana.
The workers under the Union’s jurisdiction come from a wide range of industries, establishments, companies, and firms involved in transport, including road and air transport, aviation, and automobile engineering.
During the meeting, the Union expressed its appreciation for the Directorate’s visit and acknowledged the importance of such engagements. The GTPCWU lauded the NDC’s achievements in the transport and energy sectors during their previous tenure in office but voiced concerns about the current state of affairs under the incumbent government.
One of the major grievances highlighted by the Union was the political takeover and mismanagement of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). The Union stressed that TOR should not be left in the hands of selfish individuals and lamented its deterioration over the past years. They urged that the next NDC government should prioritize fixing these issues.
The poor state of state-owned buses and the managerial challenges at the State Transport Company (STC) were also discussed. The Union criticized the condition of the buses, deeming many unfit for the roads, and highlighted how individuals and party operatives have taken over STC, leading to managerial inefficiencies.
Further concerns were raised regarding the current state of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Petroleum Commission, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and the National Road Safety Authority. The Union emphasized the need for improvements in these critical areas to enhance efficiency and safety.
Dr. Otokunor, in response, expressed gratitude for the Union’s candid input and assured them that their concerns would be incorporated into the NDC’s manifesto. He reiterated former President John Mahama’s commitment to continuous engagement with the Union, even after the elections, to ensure the implementation of the manifesto’s promises.
The meeting concluded with a renewed sense of partnership and a commitment to working together to address the challenges faced by the sectors represented by the GTPCWU, with the overarching goal of improving the working conditions and welfare of the workers.
By Felix Etornam
