The Ghana Shippers’ Authority in collaboration with its stakeholders in the trade and transport industry has held a sensitization workshop for haulage truck drivers and owners on key issues that impact the conduct of transit trade along Ghana’s corridors.

Key among the issues discussed include road safety, the transportation of dangerous and hazardous cargo as well as the haulage truck driver’s role in avoiding unnecessary cost in the shipment of transit cargo through Ghana’s ports.

The Chief Executive Officer at the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, Benonita Bismarck in a speech read on her behalf by Fred Aseidu Dartey, Head of Freight Services said quarterly fact-finding missions embarked upon by her outfit on the transit corridor unearthed serious infractions of Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, Police Harassment, and Malpractices at the Axel Load Stations.

“The outcome of the latest fact finding trip which was done only last week on the Tema-Hamile corridor recorded 55 Police and MTTD stops,” he revealed.

The General Manager in Charge of Marketing and Corporate Affairs at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Esther Gyebi-Donkor who served as Chairperson for the programme said the reformation process of the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU), embarked on by GPHA and the Shippers Authority is intended to improve unity and effectiveness among the transport unions.

“The Port Authority will not license any transport union to operate in the Port if it is not part of the JAPTU arrangement. It is practically impossible for the Port authority and other stakeholders to deal with individual transport unions to achieve policy objectives in the operations and management of our port economy,” she averred.

She said with the Port Authority making necessary investments in the transit trade such as the construction of the truck park at Paga border, the onus lies on other stakeholders within the trade such as the truck drivers to adhere to security and operational guidelines at the ports in order to be competitive.

With the help of demonstrations, the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Road Safety Authority underscored the importance of following safety guidelines for the protection of drivers, cargo, society, and the environment.

The Executive Secretary of the Joint Association of Port Transport Unions (JAPTU), Ibrahim Musah said the issues discussed will inure to the enhancement of their operations.