Regional News of Thursday, 9 October 2003

Source: GNA

GPRTU wants sale of alcohol at Asafo lorry park banned

Kumasi, Oct 9, GNA - The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has called on the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to ban the sale of alcohol at the Asafo lorry park in Kumasi.

Mr Sumaila Boachie, Welfare Chairman of the Asafo market branch of the union, said the prohibition could help check drunk driving, particularly among drivers plying the Accra-Kumasi highway thereby and help reducing the spate of road accidents.

The Welfare Chairman, who was speaking at a meeting organised by members of the branch union in Kumasi on Tuesday said attempts to eject the alcohol sellers from the lorry park had not been successful because the GPRTU lacked the necessary legal backing to undertake such an exercise.

Mr Boachie said: "It is more difficult to stop these people from operating their business at the park as they have been paying their taxes and rates to the assembly".

He urged the KMA to initiate measures to check drivers who park their vehicles and load passengers on the pavement and shoulders of the Asafo Market-Cement road.