GPRTU, GRTCC Call Off Planned Sit-Down Strike, Give Government 30-Day Ultimatum

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) have called off their planned nationwide sit-down strike over the government's failure to clear trading activities from road corridors, following last-minute assurances from three key ministers.

The decision came after a meeting on Tuesday, November 3, between the leadership of the two transport groups and the Ministers of the Interior, Transport, and Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs . In a joint statement dated Wednesday, November 4, the unions said the ministers had committed to addressing their concerns, including clearing traders from road corridors, providing adequate road signage, and ensuring sustained public education .

The meeting also resulted in the formation of a committee tasked with identifying areas affected by trading activities and recommending measures to address the situation . The statement was signed by Godfred Abulbire, General Secretary of GPRTU of TUC, and Emmanuel Ohene Yeboah, General Secretary of GRTCC .

30-Day Deadline

While calling off the strike, the unions made clear they are keeping the government on a tight leash. They gave the government a 30-day deadline to resolve all concerns, warning that failure to meet the deadline would leave them with no option but to proceed with the industrial action.

"It is our expectation that all our concerns raised during the meeting will be addressed within 30 days, failure of which we would have no option but to embark on the sit-down strike," the statement said .

The unions also thanked the three ministers for their prompt response and apologised to commuters and the general public for the inconvenience the planned strike would have caused .

Background: The TraffiTech-GH Dispute

The planned strike, originally scheduled for Wednesday, November 4, was announced in a statement dated November 2, 2026, by a coalition of five transport unions including the GPRTU, Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana, True Drivers Union, Ghana Committed Drivers Association, and Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana .

At the heart of the dispute is the rollout of TraffiTech-GH, the automated digital traffic enforcement system introduced by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) on November 1, which uses cameras to detect violations such as speeding and issue electronic fines . The unions argued that the government and police had failed to enforce Regulation 142 of L.I. 2519, which prohibits trading at bus stops and on pedestrian walkways, while simultaneously proceeding with a system that penalises drivers for violations they cannot physically avoid .

The transport operators contended that traders have occupied designated bus stops, forcing commercial drivers to pick up and drop off passengers on main road corridors—where they are then captured by TraffiTech cameras and fined . "We cannot operate in bus stops occupied by traders and still be fined by cameras," the unions had stated .

Broader Road Safety Context

The standoff underscores a longstanding challenge in Ghana's urban centres, where petty traders and hawkers have encroached on pedestrian walkways and bus stops, particularly in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area. According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), pedestrian knockdowns account for 33 percent of deaths from reported road crashes, with encroachment on road infrastructure cited as a significant contributing factor . Areas such as the Central Business District, Kaneshie, Madina, and Graphic Road have been identified as hotspots for such obstructions .

Speaking on Adom TV's Badwam programme, GPRTU Deputy Public Relations Officer Samuel Amoah said the union decided to suspend the strike after considering the potential consequences of a nationwide transport shutdown, particularly in emergency situations. He recounted a 2021 incident when commercial drivers parked their vehicles during industrial action, highlighting the difficulties commuters faced .

"We could have given them the list at the meeting, but we wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt and allow them to demonstrate that they are committed to addressing our concerns," Amoah said .

The government has yet to publicly outline a specific timeline for clearing the affected areas, but the Ministry of Local Government has indicated it will direct Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to remove traders from designated bus stops and transport terminals where necessary .