Faithfulness, dedication to duty and volunteerism by eleven National Service Personnel who served with the Ghana Railway Company Limited (GRCL) has earned them a job, certificate of honour and a thousand Ghana cedis each for contributing to increased revenue on the service train run by the company.

The service personnel, who are degree and Higher National Diploma (HND) holders in fields such as engineering, marketing, geography and mathematics among others, were not perturbed by the many derogatory comments from staff and other personnel when they decided to take up the selling and monitoring of tickets on the diesel multiple units (DMU) before commencing their real jobs at their various sectors.

The dedication of the eleven personnel spanning from January to July has earned the company a total of GHC69,250.

It is said that the DMU had only two permanent staff to manage the selling of tickets which did not yield much to the company and that the GRCL sought among the 50 personnel posted to the company for individuals who could voluntarily assist in that service centre to help raise the revenue margin.

Mr Ernest Arhin, Acting Personnel Manager of the GRCL, during a short ceremony to honour the personnel, said their arrival and taking up of the position as ticket seller was timely.

"These eleven personnel volunteered and went the extra mile to accept this onerous responsibility in addition to their normal duties assigned to them at their various departments".

He said that the image of the company was sinking among the public, before the intervention by the service personnel, because those who were in charge of the passenger services "looked shabbily dressed, smelt of alcohol and had bad human relations".

Mr Arhin said the personnel exhibited good attitude, high skills and put up decent appearance during the performance of their duties on the train, adding, “They were always punctual and sometimes use part of their meagre allowance to board vehicle to the departure station when the official vehicle was not available'.

“Above all, their performance on the train redeemed the lost image of the GRCL to an appreciable level”, it was in recognition of all these that the management of GRC was awarding them with these certificates of Recognition to serve as an example worthy of emulation to those who may be required to act or perform in such capacities, he added.

Mr Joe Ghartey, Minister for Railway Development, said the eleven had written their own history and must serve as an example for the current generation on what humility, hard work and dedication to duty could do for any individual. “These people are graduate and yet decided to sell tickets…you are wise men who have not killed the goose laying the golden eggs…what we all do for our country’s development,” he added.

He said the sector was preparing itself to be more efficient and effective public enterprises in the country and called for committed individuals to help realise the vision.

Mr William Addo, leader of the Personnel, whiles expressing gratitude, said the insults and degrading words from and among the workers did not stop them from giving of their best because, “We purposed in our heart to contribute our quota to national development whether we are motivated or not”. He lauded Mr Godwil Ntarmah, Union Chairman of the GRC and the Minister for inspiring them to achieve their current feat.

The eleven dedicated personnel include: Wisdom Addo and Joseph Bosso both HND Civil Engineers, Kotey Abbosey-Kotey, BSc, Geography and Regional Planning, Osei Appiah Gideon, BSc, Planning, Patience Akonner, HND Marketing and Evelyn Kagbetor, BSc Marketing.

The rest are: Prince Tetteh BA, Sociology and Economics, Evans Akpini, BA, Economics and Maths, Patricia Aba Dramani HND Accountancy, Daniel Sam, HND purchasing and supply, and Foster Kweku Wiredu, BA Communication and Media studies. GNA