The Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) Senior Staff Association has called for the immediate suspension of the implementation of the National Roads Authority Act, 2024 (Act 1118), citing a lack of consultation and potential negative impacts on workers and institutional efficiency.
In a statement signed by the National Chairman of the GHA Senior Staff Association, Oswald Kwame Okafo Amanfu and the National Chairman of the GHA Workers Union (CBMWU-TUC), the association expressed strong opposition to the Act, which they say risks increasing bureaucratic inefficiencies and undermining the autonomy of GHA.
The staff concerns were raised during a durbar held at the GHA premises on October 16, 2024 where workers unanimously voiced disapproval of the Act’s imminent implementation.
While acknowledging the Act’s potential to streamline operations and improve coordination in the road sector, the workers argue that the current version of the legislation is flawed and was passed without proper consultations, particularly with GHA employees.
“We believe the Act, in its current state, needs to be halted until a wider consultation is conducted to inform the necessary institutional reforms,” the statement reads.
The workers referenced a World Bank-assisted study from 2022, which recommended that GHA should be made more autonomous for greater efficiency rather than being subsumed under a new National Roads Authority.
The association fears that the creation of this Authority could worsen the current bureaucratic challenges faced by GHA.
The statement also criticised the appointments made under the new Act, arguing that they contravene Article 195 of Ghana’s Constitution, which mandates that such appointments be made by the President in consultation with the Public Services Commission.
The workers demanded the revocation of these appointments, claiming they were unconstitutional.
Key demands made by the association include: The suspension of the implementation of the National Roads Authority Act, 2024, pending broader consultations with stakeholders, particularly GHA workers.
The revocation of appointments made under Act 1118 due to their alleged breach of constitutional requirements.
Fresh agency-wide consultations based on the 2022 World Bank-assisted study to determine the appropriate institutional reforms for GHA and the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
The immediate removal of GHA Board Chairman Ing. I. K. Mensah and Chief Executive Ing. Collins B. Donkor, who are accused of failing to consult with staff during the drafting of the NRA Bill and endorsing an Act that allegedly undermines workers’ interests.
The association warned that if these two leaders are not removed within seven working days, workers will embark on industrial action, including a strike and lockout as permitted under the Labour Act. Additionally, if the Act is not withdrawn or revoked within fourteen days, the staff threatened an indefinite strike and pledged to boycott the upcoming GHA@50 dinner with the President.
The National Roads Authority Act 2024 seeks to consolidate the functions of various road sector agencies to improve infrastructure management.
However, GHA workers fear that its implementation could erode their rights and negatively impact the institution’s effectiveness.
