We are not increasing fares over towing fees – GPRTU

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has debunked reports that it will immediately increase transportation fare if the mandatory towing levy is implemented by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC).

Even though the transport operators admit that the implementation of the policy will increase their operational costs, they do not anticipate a rise in transportation fares anytime soon.

“We are not saying we will push for any increment as of now but in the future when we are considering the fare increment that will be factored into it,” National Vice Chairman of the GPRTU, Robert Sabah stated.

Effective July 1, this year, vehicle owners and motorcyclists will be compelled to pay compulsory annual fees, tied to the acquisition of road worthy certificate, to cater for towing services.

The move has been met with stiff opposition from commuters and vehicle owners.

Some have argued that the move will also increase the burden of drivers or vehicle owners.

Already transport fares have been increased by 15 percent early this year.

The transport unions cited the rise in fuel prices and other operational cost as basis for the upward review.

Mr. Sabah is also confident that the margin of increase in transport fares will only be determined by the margin of increase following the implementation of the compulsory towing fees.

“When this law becomes operational, then any amount that we pay becomes part of our operational cost and therefore when there is the need for any transport fare increases, this will be considered.”

“Because we always take into consideration all these operational costs; that is, the DVLA registration, insurance, spare parts, district assemblies’ stickers, among others before fixing transport fares. So if this becomes an additional operational cost, that will also be considered,” he asserted.

Meanwhile some Ghanaians have expressed disapproval at the compulsory towing levy which is to be commenced on the first of July this year.

Citi Business News’ checks have revealed that majority of car owners believe the new levy will only add to the already burdened Ghanaian car owner.

A tax consultant, Abdallah Ali-Nakyea of Ali-Nakyea and Associates had described the levy yet as improper, hence must be scrapped.

“The towing levy is arbitrary and not participatory enough…it will rather increase the hardships that Ghanaians are already facing,” one vehicle owner opined.

Another remarked, “What is the essence of the road worthy for the vehicles while we pay insurance on our vehicles with commercial vehicles also paying toll to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly.”

Ghana sinking into anarchy – Nunoo-Mensah

The lawlessness being witnessed in Ghana will plunge the West African nation into anarchy, a former National Security capo Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Joseph Nunoo-Mensah has warned.

“Ghana is sinking into anarchy,” the outspoken ex-military officer told host of Morning Starr Francis Abban Monday, referring to instances of mob lynching which resulted in the deaths of a young military commander Major Maxwell Adam Mahama and an alleged witch a few weeks ago.

According to Brig. Gen. Nunoo-Mensah, lawlessness is on the ascendency because of the high level of unemployment in Ghana.

“We need to work to put people to proper work. They are idle and the Devil finds work for the idle hands,” the former national security advisor said.

Asked how lawlessness could be curbed, Nunoo-Mensah said people in leadership positions should “live by example.”

“Ghana is sinking into anarchy. Nobody cares. Society is gradually driving into anarchy. The policeman seeing a man breaking traffic rules must be dealt with. People must not get away with little crimes.

“Everybody has a job to do. Every assembly must engage in farming. You go to Winneba and all the people are doing nothing… all of us have to wake up and do something.

“Because we have not been handling indiscipline properly, Ghana is becoming a lawless country. There is so much hopelessness and unemployment,” Nunoo-Mensah noted.

Kwesi Botchwey makes 8 recommendations for NDC

The 13-member Professor Kwesi Botchwey Committee probing the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) 2016 election defeat on Monday (June 19, 2017) presented a 455-page report to the National Executive Committee of the party.

Professor Botchwey handed over the voluminous document titled “Listening To The Voice Of The Grassroots” to the national chairman of the NDC, Mr Kofi Portuphy at the party’s headquarters in Accra.

The Deputy General-Secretary of the party, Koku Anyidoho insisted that the report would not be made public and the closest journalists would get to it was at the ceremony.

However, Prof Botchway who led the fact-finding committee on their journey across the country gave an insight into some of the recommendations at the press briefing.

He said he was hopeful that the recommendations when implemented, would win the NDC party the 2020 polls.

Eight recommendations contained in the Kwesi Botchwey report

1. That the party puts together a group of credible and eminent members of our party to undertake a peacebuilding and healing of the country.

2. That the party takes steps to restore the integrity of the biometric register and the expanded electoral college.

3. We recommend that steps be taken to restore the capacity and effectiveness of the party’s organs especially at the branch level where we believe these organs are the most critical because they are the party’s immediate connection to the people, we are afterall a truly mass party.

4. We also have recommendations on ways we can and must improve the collation of election results.

5. We also believe that steps ought to be taken by the party to reconnect itself properly to our social democratic roots and the principal actors in these social democratic roots.

6. We recommend that steps ought to be taken to strengthen research and intelligence in the party. This should involve crowding in a larger body of the party’s intellectual base which has not been particularly active in the past, this will help to support the party’s research capacity.

7. There are recommendations that the party will scale-up and re-invigorate its work in the area of youth organisation.

8. The organisation of women, we note that significant changes have taken place in the country’s demographic profile and that the party ought to take notice of this and all the implications of these changes.