The Joint Association of Port Transport Union has held its annual thanksgiving service to acknowledge the goodness of God for successes chalked by the Association in 2019.

The Deputy Minister for Transport, Daniel Titus Glover appreciated the contribution of drivers in the transport business to the development of the country.

He cautioned haulage drivers to abide by the laws of the state and eschew malpractices.

“If an importer or clearing agent hires your service be sure that transit goods which are not meant for the Ghanaian markets are not diverted to sell in our markets. In so doing you the driver will be arrested,” he charged.

Official from the National Road Safety, Tony Dickson urged drivers to disassociate themselves from the abuse of alcohol and illicit drugs which have fatal consequences.

“The drivers are not only taking tramadol or alcohol but it has come to our attention that some drivers also inhale fuels to be intoxicated while driving on the road. Please we urge them to desist from that,” he pleaded.

Tema Regional MTTD Police Commander, ACP Owusu-Bempah, urged the union to partner with the police and regularly educate the haulage drivers and other road users on their responsibility on the road to ensure road safety.

The Deputy Marketing and Corporate Affairs Manager of GPHA, Nana Esi Soderberg, said the Port Authority would continue to create the avenue for connecting international trade, and called for a closer collaboration from hauliers in extending that connectivity locally and among the transit countries.

“The traffic will grow and people will import more when they know that everything is reliable. That is, they can trust our hauliers to take care of their cargo and be timely in transporting their goods from the port to the final destination,” she said.

Mohamed Alhaji Tanko National President, Ghana National Cargo Transport, called for the Ghanaian citizenry to be patient and supportive in their dealings with the cargo transport sector for national development.

The Ghana Chief Imam, His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, called upon Ghanaians to pray to God for the leadership of the country and urged all citizens to be proactive to ensure the development of the nation.