Essikado (W/R) March 23,-GNA- Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area in the Western Region has added his voice to the call on both workers and management of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC) to depart from their entrenched positions and cooperate to find amicably resolve the current impasse that is gradually collapsing the company.

He reminded both the workers and management that the future of the Company was in their hands and they should not let it collapse while they looked on.

"The people had always and rightly so, associated the economic growth and development of the area and the country as a whole in the railways industry, hence our interests in its affairs" he said, adding, "To us "railways is Ghana and Ghana is railways; we cannot afford to let it collapse".

Nana Nketsia was speaking to the Ghana News Agency at Essikado on efforts being made by the Traditional Council, on the quiet to get the striking railways workers to resume work as soon as possible. He said the Traditional Area was not only associated with the country's independence struggle it had over the years also taken much interest in the growth and development of other institutions, including the GRC that operates from the area. The fortunes of GRC had had direct or indirect impact on the people in the community, Nana Nketsia said. He said the Traditional Council was working tirelessly behind the scenes to complement efforts to find lasting solutions to the misunderstanding between the workers and their management. Nana Nketsia disclosed that he had convened a first round meeting with the "parties" with the exception of Government and made a proposal for an independent body that would go into the grievances and complaints of workers and management.

This, he said, would form the basis for working out a settlement that would then involve Government and other parties. Nana Nketsia said the problems confronting the GRC were a "historic one" that was compounded by the removal of subvention for the company in 1977 and therefore would require short and long term solutions. "The problems of the GRC are not of today, it is believed both management and workers had contributed in no small way to the present predicament and I hope all concerned will understand", he said. Nana Nketsia also questioned the wisdom in the "systematic neglect" of the railway system that was used for bulk haulage of timber, bauxite, cocoa, manganese and petroleum products that was more efficient and economical.

He said the social and economic cost of transporting these items by road was enormous and added that those who benefit from the later would work to discourage the effort to revamp the railway system and urged the authorities to sit up. 23 March 08