Protests over directive to A/R GPRTU Execs to step aside

Some concerned members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the Ashanti Region has registered their dismay over the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of GPRTU, directing all the Ashanti Regional Executives to step aside for an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the activities of the Regional Secretariat.

The Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the GPRTU had their Executive Elections, slated for July 1, 2025 postponed due to a court order that barred the incumbent Regional Chairman, SumailaBoakye, from seeking another term.

The injunction was filed by three members from the Takoradi-Elubo Station Branch of the Ashanti Regional GPRTU, demanding accountability and stewardship of Mr.Boakye’s tenure at the said branch.

But speaking on behalf of the group at a press conference in Kumasi, Mr. Charles Mensah, Secretary of the Kumasi-Manso branch of the union indicated that the decision by the NWC, is contrary to the 2024 Constitution of the GPRTU, which is the fundamental law or code guiding all activities of the Union.

He explained that the issue regarding the election of the Regional Executives was currently pending before a Kumasi High Court and that a motion for an interlocutory injunction was being sought   to restraint the GPRTU from conducting the elections.

Mr. Mensah argued  that the decision  directing Regional Executives to step aside was not taken by all the National Executives and/or the right persons mandated to do so and stressed that they (concerned members) “will neither accept nor cooperate” with any IMC until the law Court determines the contentious matter between the parties.

He called on the national executive Council of the GPRTU and the Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and bring sanity to Ashanti Regional GPRTU.

Mr. Mensah urged the national executives of GPRTU to eschew partisan and personal interest in the resolution of the matter to avoid any future occurrence and ensure the smooth running of the Regional GPRTU.

Mr. Martin Forkuo, Chairman, Central Branch, GPRTU-Ashanti disclosed that letter from the national secretariat, which directs the Ashanti Regional Executives to step aside for an IMC to takeoverthe helm of affairs was contrary to the Union’s 2024 Constitution, which prescribes how an IMC can be formulated.

He explained that under Article 23 (Appointment of Interim Management Committee) of the said Constitution, an IMC can be formulated on the premises of “impropriety”, such as dishonest professional behaviour contending that the Regional Chairman, Vice Chairman, First Trustee and Industrial Relations Officer (IRO), are not engaged in any improprieties.

Mr.Forkuo also indicated that Article 13 (Election Qualification), Sub-Section (P) of the Union’s 2024 Constitution stipulates that current executives, after their four-year tenure, must oversee the elections of new executive, and if elections cannot be conducted due to any “incumbrances” (in this case the interlocutory injunction), the current executives “must remove the obstacle” before elections can be conducted.

Mr.Forkuo indicated that the Ashanti Regional Working Committee, which oversee the administration of the Union in region, had issued a letter, dated October 21, 2025 protesting the “directive” from the national secretariat, with the Ashanti Regional IRO being a signatory, which proves the directive was contrary to the Union’s Constitution.

The Central branch chairman called on the National Executives to withdraw its directive to avoid litigation.

By Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi

The post Protests over directive to A/R GPRTU Execs to step aside appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.

Read Full Story