The Ghana Railway Workers Union (GRWU) of the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) has accused the Ghana Railway Development Authority (GRDA) of taking undue advantage of the Ghana Railway Act to perpetrate acts that are detrimental to its survival.
It is on record that for years, the GRCL has complained about Act 779, which amongst other things, transfers assets hitherto under the care of the GRCL to GRDA.
A series of appeals by the workers to have the Act reviewed have not yielded the required result.
The General Secretary of the GRWU, Godwill Ntarmah, in a statement released in Takoradi, said
The GRDA was supervising the removal and loading of rail tracks at Kaase in the Ashanti Region for sale as scraps.
The GRDA has also indicated its intention to take over some bungalows in Kumasi by August 31, 2022, in spite of the fact that officials of GRCL and their families occupy them.
That apart, the GRDA was denying the GRCL the right to collect rents from operators on railway lands as was previously being done by it.
“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 piecemeal approach for its disposal and sale?” he asked.
According to the statement, it must be noted that in all these arrangements, the interest of the GRCL was not considered.
“GRCL is heavily indebted to a number of institutions, as it sometimes borrows from the banks and its major client, Ghana Manganese Company, to effect payment of salaries and purchase of fuel etc. More so, payment for June and July salaries were paid just today 11th, August, 2022.”
The statement further added that the “GRCL is operating the shuttle service from Accra to Tema and Kojokrom to Takoradi at a loss, as those services were considered more of a social service than a commercial venture, without any support from any angle to even purchase fuel for such operations.”
The statement, however, said the GRCL could have taken advantage from the sale of scraps and collection of rents to support its operations, if the assets were to be in its care.
If the Ministry of Railways Development does not call GRDA to order, and ensure an amicable solution to the challenges enumerated above, which the Ministry was 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, cease running as “we can no longer borrow money to support such operations. We have arrived at this decision, because GRCL feels neglected and the centre can no longer hold,” General Secretary Ntarmah said.
