Road transport operators are threatening to embark on a nationwide strike next week Monday\u00a0in protest over\u00a0new motor insurance premiums.<\/p>\n
The Ghana Insurance Association in June last year proposed an 800% increase in motor insurance premiums, but following protest from the transport unions it was reduced to 400%.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”8GWx8b8eMU0OAjUhF5YQz8awSrxRfufM”]Speaking to Citi News<\/strong> on the sidelines of a press conference in Accra, the Chairman of the Ghana Committed Drivers\u2019 Association, Charles Danso, alleged that the Association is scheming to charge the 800% they resisted last year.<\/p>\n “We are by this press conference, giving G.I.A., N.I.C. and the Ministry of Transport, two days within which to reduce the motor insurance premium rate to the agreed percentage of between 240%-260%<\/p>\n “Failure to do this will result in the call to all members of GPRTU, GCTDA, and GRTCC nationwide to position themselves for a total strike action on Monday, February 8, 2016, to register our anger at what we consider a needless act of bad faith by the GIA, and an act of insensitivity by the NIC and Ministry of Transport,” Danso said in a statement.<\/p>\n This is not the first time drivers have threatened to embark on a strike<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>over increased\u00a0insurance premiums.<\/p>\n They threatened a similar action in 2015, arguing that insurance companies do not readily pay claims in the event of accidents, yet are eager to collect claims and increase same arbitrarily.<\/p>\n Below is the group’s full statement <\/b><\/p>\n PRESS CONFERENCE BY ROAD TRANSPORT OPERATORS (GPRTU,GRTCC, GCTDA): STRIKE ACTION-MONDAY FEBRUARY 8,2016<\/b> We the undersigned, who are senior executives and representatives of road transport operators nationwide, have invited you to here to announce a nationwide strike action on Monday, February 8,2016.<\/p>\n This impending action has become necessary, following the many recent increases in road transport-related charges, and the failure of the relevant state institutions to listen to our cry for a reduction.<\/p>\n It will be recalled that in June, 2015, the Ghana Insurance Association (G.I.A.) attempted to impose an 8oo% increase in motor insurance premiums (Third party).<\/p>\n This was however fiercely resisted by the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU), Ghana Committed Drivers’ Association (GCTDA) and GRTCC, leading to a reduction of the premium to 400% increase, which we again rejected.<\/p>\n Following continued negotiations between the Ministry of Transport, Road Transport Operators and GIA. and NIC, a mutually agreed incremental rate of between 240%-260% was arrived at.<\/p>\n Ladies and gentlemen of the media, instead of applying the agreed incremental rate of between 240%-260%, the GIA has this year, rather increased the 400% premium rate, to 500%!<\/p>\n This, ladies and gentlemen, is not good, and is an act in bad faith by the GIA.<\/p>\n We are by this press conference, giving G.I.A., N.I.C. and the Ministry of Transport, two days within which to reduce the motor insurance premium rate to the agreed percentage of between 240%-260%<\/p>\n Failure to do this will result in the call to all members of GPRTU, GCTDA, and GRTCC nationwide to position themselves for a total strike action on Monday, February 8, 2016 to register our anger at what we consider a needless act of bad faith by the GIA, and an act of insensitivity by the NIC and Ministry of Transport. –<\/p>\n By: Marian Ansah\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
\nLadies and gentlemen of the media, we thank you for honouring our invitation to this press conference at short notice. We will make it brief.<\/p>\n
\nLadies and gentlemen of the media, thank you.
\n-SIGNED-
\nCHARLES DANSO(CHAI RMAN-GCTDA)-0264233929
\nFRANCIS APPIAH(P.R.O.-GCTDA)-0269872343
\nOMAR BALE(TIPPER CHAIR-TEMA\/SAKUMONO\/ASHIAMAN)-024321712<\/p>\n
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