Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority,Ransford Gyampo, has announced plans to meet with leaders of the joint Association of Port Transport Drivers at 12pm on Monday, April 13, in an effort to address growing concerns raised by the group.

The engagement comes amid escalating tensions between the Authority and port transport drivers, who have signalled a possible industrial action.

JAPTU members have indicated plans to stage a sit-down strike from April 14 to April 17, citing what they describe as unfair and restrictive regulatory measures introduced by the Authority.

According to the group, the policies could adversely affect their operations and threaten their livelihoods if not reviewed.

Speaking in an interview on Monday, April 13, Mr Gyampo reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to fostering a cooperative and efficient working environment within the port sector.

He emphasised that the Authority is open to dialogue and is determined to work closely with drivers to resolve the issues and reach mutually beneficial outcomes.

“We are supposed to be championing their concerns. How do you fight for somebody that you don’t know? That is why in the wisdom of the framers of the Shippers’ Act, to be able to be effective in regulating and controlling their activities, you need to officially know them in the book by registering them.

“Their leadership noted that they had already registered their members and that our attempt to re-register them would be a duplication, and so we agreed to discuss and resolve their concerns in line with the law and so it was surprising when we saw that they wanted to strike.

“Yesterday [Sunday, April 12], I had a telephone discussion with their leadership and they agreed that we meet them at 12pm this afternoon to look at their concerns to see how we can address them.”