A railway line
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7th December, 2010
Railway Workers Urge Injection Of More Cash
Key players in the railway sub-sector of the economy say that for the sector to be functional to enable it play it expected role effectively there is the need for a strong political will, the injection of huge capital and committed human resource.
Workers apart from having passion for the job, must also abandon their old-fashion militant activism in favour of new work attitude of discipline and hard work, to reverse the dwindling fortunes of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC)
These were some of the major concern that emerged when the National Executive Council of the Railway Workers Union (RWU) met here to reflect and review the past and plan for the future.
The meeting attended by 80 delegates from Takoradi, Awaso, Kumasi, Sekondi, Dunkwa, Accra and Tema discussed the theme, “Better Ghana Agenda,” the need to revamp the railway: The Role of In-house stakeholders – Government, Board, Management and Workers.”
The Deputy Minister for Transport, Mrs. Dzifa Aku Attivor, in her address, said the government had since assuming office in 2009, never failed to demonstrate its commitment and determination to reverse the negative trend in railway development.
“The passion to put railway development on a positive pedestal to play its expected role in spearheading the social, economic and cultural development has remained our priority,” she stated.
She reiterated the government’s and the ministry’s intentions to revive the railway industry and to empower the GRC to operate as a viable and competitive transport operator.
The Deputy Minister said the operation of rail services had become highly competitive adding that, the survival of Ghana’s rail services would require utmost efficiency and reliability.
The rehabilitation of the Western Line, Mrs. Ativor told the RWU delegates, was scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2011 and was expected to be completed after one year.
“Arrangements are also far advanced to appoint consultants to prepare a Railway Master Plan and supervise the rehabilitation and construction of railway infrastructure in the country.” She added.
The Deputy Minister said that one other challenge facing the industry was that of the relationship between the Ghana Railway Development Authority, (GRDA), and the GRC saying that a stakeholder’s forum had been scheduled for this week here in Takoradi for the boards and management to address and resolve some teething challenges.
“I want to assure you that Government which brought about the Better Ghana Agenda will do its part for its success because it is aware that the accelerated growth and development of Ghana depend on an efficient and modern rail network… when we came here in June 2009, we met a workforce that was more than determined to contribute to nation building, but lacked the needed political will, and that is exactly what we are providing,” Mrs. Ativor said.
She told the RWU that the government had made the necessary arrangements and paid all salary arrears by close of 2009, including the payment of the balance of 50 per cent of severance package for a number of workers laid off in 2006.
Railway workers, she said, would continue to receive salaries until the time that they would be able to wean themselves off government’s subvention adding that, they would get their salaries before the Christmas Holidays.
The General Secretary of the RWU, Mr. Daniel Kingsford Esso, observed that, while the government was resolving to resuscitate the railway sector, indiscipline was “the order of the day.”
“From the top to bottom everybody does anything and this needs to be corrected,” he said.
Mr. Esso explained that, the absence of an incumbent Managing Director and Management was part of the problem and therefore appealed to the government to expedite action on a new head for the company.
He also appealed to the Ministry to ensure that salaries were paid before the Christmas holidays.
The President of the Senior Staff Association, Mr. John K. Amoah, for his part, stressed the need for the stakeholders to sustain the present system.
He described the Western line as the ‘blood’ that flows through the “veins’ of the country’s railway and appealed to the government to speed up the overhaul of that system.
“We are not happy with what we have at the moment; we should be able to stand on our feet and pay our salaries and not always go round begging. We should never abandon the Western rail line which hauls bauxite from Awaso and manganese from Nsuta to the Takoradi Port,” Mr. Amoah said.
Workers apart from having passion for the job, must also abandon their old-fashion militant activism in favour of new work attitude of discipline and hard work, to reverse the dwindling fortunes of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC)
These were some of the major concern that emerged when the National Executive Council of the Railway Workers Union (RWU) met here to reflect and review the past and plan for the future.
The meeting attended by 80 delegates from Takoradi, Awaso, Kumasi, Sekondi, Dunkwa, Accra and Tema discussed the theme, “Better Ghana Agenda,” the need to revamp the railway: The Role of In-house stakeholders – Government, Board, Management and Workers.”
The Deputy Minister for Transport, Mrs. Dzifa Aku Attivor, in her address, said the government had since assuming office in 2009, never failed to demonstrate its commitment and determination to reverse the negative trend in railway development.
“The passion to put railway development on a positive pedestal to play its expected role in spearheading the social, economic and cultural development has remained our priority,” she stated.
She reiterated the government’s and the ministry’s intentions to revive the railway industry and to empower the GRC to operate as a viable and competitive transport operator.
The Deputy Minister said the operation of rail services had become highly competitive adding that, the survival of Ghana’s rail services would require utmost efficiency and reliability.
The rehabilitation of the Western Line, Mrs. Ativor told the RWU delegates, was scheduled to commence in the first quarter of 2011 and was expected to be completed after one year.
“Arrangements are also far advanced to appoint consultants to prepare a Railway Master Plan and supervise the rehabilitation and construction of railway infrastructure in the country.” She added.
The Deputy Minister said that one other challenge facing the industry was that of the relationship between the Ghana Railway Development Authority, (GRDA), and the GRC saying that a stakeholder’s forum had been scheduled for this week here in Takoradi for the boards and management to address and resolve some teething challenges.
“I want to assure you that Government which brought about the Better Ghana Agenda will do its part for its success because it is aware that the accelerated growth and development of Ghana depend on an efficient and modern rail network… when we came here in June 2009, we met a workforce that was more than determined to contribute to nation building, but lacked the needed political will, and that is exactly what we are providing,” Mrs. Ativor said.
She told the RWU that the government had made the necessary arrangements and paid all salary arrears by close of 2009, including the payment of the balance of 50 per cent of severance package for a number of workers laid off in 2006.
Railway workers, she said, would continue to receive salaries until the time that they would be able to wean themselves off government’s subvention adding that, they would get their salaries before the Christmas Holidays.
The General Secretary of the RWU, Mr. Daniel Kingsford Esso, observed that, while the government was resolving to resuscitate the railway sector, indiscipline was “the order of the day.”
“From the top to bottom everybody does anything and this needs to be corrected,” he said.
Mr. Esso explained that, the absence of an incumbent Managing Director and Management was part of the problem and therefore appealed to the government to expedite action on a new head for the company.
He also appealed to the Ministry to ensure that salaries were paid before the Christmas holidays.
The President of the Senior Staff Association, Mr. John K. Amoah, for his part, stressed the need for the stakeholders to sustain the present system.
He described the Western line as the ‘blood’ that flows through the “veins’ of the country’s railway and appealed to the government to speed up the overhaul of that system.
“We are not happy with what we have at the moment; we should be able to stand on our feet and pay our salaries and not always go round begging. We should never abandon the Western rail line which hauls bauxite from Awaso and manganese from Nsuta to the Takoradi Port,” Mr. Amoah said.
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