Ghana’s Railway Workers Union has raised concern about using the existing inadequate gauge rail lines, which are in poor condition.
They said that difficulties facing Ghana Railways Company Limited (GRCL) are also having an impact on its finances.
At a news conference in Takoradi that was sighted by 1Family radio, Mr. Godwin Ntarmah, the union’s general secretary, stated that the difficulties had led to severe financial constraints that had the potential to bring the corporation to its knees.
According to him, the company is “easily qualified to be classified as a highly indebted poor company” (HIPC).
He claims that for the past three months, employees have not received their salaries.
The worker’s tier two Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions have also not been reimbursed since May 2022 to this day, he said, adding that the company owes GCB Bank millions of cedis.
He continued by saying that workers’ contributions to their various credit unions, such as the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GHPA) and Rucomas Credit Union, have fallen behind since September 2021.
Considering the GRCL is a limited liability corporation, Mr. Ntarmah stated that it should be able to work and create enough revenue to support itself. We disagree with this since, despite the difficulties mentioned before, it is still possible for the company to raise enough money to run and support itself.
He said that although work on the western line from Kojokrom to the Huni valleys’ standard gauge rail line was advancing steadily, more efforts were required to improve railroad operations.
As a result, the workers made a plea to various authorities, including the president, to work together and develop practical steps to address all underlying problems and prevent the collapse of GRCL.
Source: 1Familyradio
