Members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and a group of hawkers staged a protest today against what they describe as the gradual encroachment of the CMB lorry park in Accra.
The demonstrators, expressing deep frustration over the loss of their operational space, marched peacefully and presented a petition to the Office of the President, calling for immediate government intervention.
According to the Industrial Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Abass Imoro, portions of the CMB lorry park have been increasingly taken over by entities claiming to have authorization from the Ghana Railway Development Authority.
He noted that this slow but persistent encroachment has been ongoing for several years and is now threatening the livelihoods of drivers and traders who depend on the space for their daily operations.
“For some years now, gradually, someone comes, says railway has given some portion to him,” he said.
He said the same situation is happening again currently and the GPRTU cannot watch their space be taken.
Abass Imoro added that, despite the Railway Authority owning the land, the union has been paying for their operation at the space.
“We’ve been paying rent. They’ve given us a site plan as well. We have all those documents,” Imoro stated.
The petition submitted to the Presidency outlines the union’s concerns and calls on the Government to step in to safeguard the lorry park from further encroachment.
At a press briefing on 15th September, Deputy National PRO of GPRTU, Samuel Amoah said the enroachment has forced drivers to pick up passengers at unauthorised location.
This has also forced traders and hawkers into the street, which is unsafe and causes traffic.
