A major demonstration is set to paralyse parts of Accra tomorrow as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other allied groups protest the alleged takeover of land designated for lorry stations by private investors.
The protest, which is expected to draw thousands of drivers, aims to petition the government to intervene and protect the land earmarked for commercial transport operations at the Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) area in the nation’s capital.
Speaking at a press conference in Accra today, September 15, the GPRTU’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Samuel Amoah, announced the union’s plan to stage a large-scale demonstration.
He stated that the protest is a culmination of long-standing grievances over the continuous encroachment on public land intended for vital transport infrastructure.
The GPRTU plans to march to the Jubilee House to present a formal petition to the government, urging a swift and decisive response to the issue.
The demonstration has garnered support from other groups, including the Concerned Drivers Association.
Its President, William Osei, called on all drivers to show solidarity with the protest by parking their vehicles, a move that could disrupt commuter traffic and transport services across the city.
The action is intended to send a strong message to both private investors and the government about the gravity of the situation.
The protest has also received vocal support from market women who operate in and around the affected lorry stations.
They have expressed deep concern over the potential loss of their livelihoods should the takeover proceed.
In a passionate appeal, they called on the Vice President and the First Lady to intervene and halt the projects, warning that the move would displace thousands of traders and informal workers who depend on the transport hubs for their income.
The protest is a response to what the unions describe as a worrying trend where lands designated for public infrastructure, such as lorry stations and markets, are being sold to private developers for commercial projects like shopping malls and residential apartments.
Lorry stations in major commercial hubs are critical components of the city’s transport network, providing a vital service to millions of daily commuters.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
