The Transport Ministry has started discussions with Railway Workers who have threatened to withdraw their services on July 21, 2014.
The workers say a staff salary review process to regularize their salary structure has not been effected despite a directive from the President.
Speaking to Citi News, Deputy Transport Minister, Joyce Bawah-Mogtari says though the railway sector is not fetching government the needed income, the concerns of the workers will be addressed.
She told Citi News about the reality of the situation in relation to railway transport saying, “What you must also remember is that considering the state of the railway infrastructure, Ghana Railway Company Limited is currently operating at a very low level they are not even making any profit and of course the charge of the railway services are also very low. This makes it very difficult for them to make enough to sustain or support income.”
She explained the Railway Workers’ problem saying “We started with some form of engagement with them yesterday, but the meeting was called on short notice so we got the few who were here in Accra to attend the meeting. They have actually told the ministry that because it has taken so long to get back to them, they don’t believe that we are making an effort to find an amicable solution.
“What we are going to do is to invite a larger meeting to a meeting on Friday and hopefully we will be able to address the entirety of the workers and to get them to be calm and await Government’s response to the proposal being made by the fare, wages and salary commission,” She added.
By: Ewurabena Hagan/citifmoonline.com/Ghana
Follow @ewurabenaGH