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Ghana: GPRTU Has No Case
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Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra)
EDITORIAL
7 May 2008
Posted to the web 7 May 2008
Yesterday, we carried a story about a demonstration that was embarked upon by the Sefwi Wiawso branch of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), against the presence of the Metro Mass Transit buses in the area.
Somewhere last year, the GPRTU branch at Tarkwa also went on a similar protest against the presence of the MMT buses in the area. At the end of the day, the then Wassa West district assembly had to intervene to ensure that the two transport organizations operate without any acrimony. Prior to these two incidents, there were several reports about the GPRTU drivers protesting against the presence of the MMT in their operational areas.
The Chronicle finds the attitude of the GPRTU drivers rather unfortunate because the 1992 constitution guarantees the freedom of association. This means not all unions can belong to one association. Besides, Ghana is now practising a free market economy where individuals are at liberty to take their own economic decisions. The government and individuals can therefore venture into any business provided it is legal.
In business practices, competition is always encouraged because healthy competition helps the consumer to enjoy best services from providers. The State Transport Company (STC) used to enjoy some kind of monopoly but they did not complain when that monopoly was broken. The company rather decided to adopt modern business practice to stay in competition. Today their fares are even more expensive than what the GPRTU vehicles charge, yet people prefer to patronize their service because of their good customer relations and safety records.
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Unfortunately, this is not what the GPRTU is doing. It is an undeniable fact that some of the cars and vehicles they are using are appalling, such that passengers refuse to board them. Apart from this, the drivers and their mates do not know how to handle customers. They are fond of insulting passengers at the least provocation contrary to the business practice that the customer is always right and must therefore be treated with tact. Surely, GPRTU cannot compete in any competetive environment if they continue to adopt that archaic business practice.
To us at The Chronicle, government can never be blamed for introducing the MMT. In the same vein it cannot be accused of trying to kill the business of private entrepreneurs. We would have had a problem with the government if the MMT was receiving certain privileges such as reduced fuel prices and spares parts, which is not the case. The MMT and the GPRTU go to the same market to buy their spare parts and fuel.
The best they can do is to change their attitude towards customers and also take proper care of their vehicles. If this is done, MMT buses will be there at cheaper fares but travellers will prefer to patronize their vehicles because every customer is looking for good or better services. The Chronicle sees their nationwide protest as an unfruitful one because it goes contrary to modern day business practice.
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