The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority (GSA), Ms. Benonita Bismarck has expressed the Authority’s commitment to the reform of the operations of the Joint Association of Port and Transport Union (JAPTU) to reposition it to become more relevant to the demands of the shipping and logistics industry.
She said the GSA will intensify efforts to bring all transport unions under one umbrella to serve as a united front for transport owners and drivers to engage with stakeholders in and outside Ghana’s maritime industry on issues affecting their trade.
Ms. Bismarck gave the assurance on 4th October, 2019 when a delegation of interim executives of JAPTU paid a courtesy call on the GSA to discuss pertinent issues on the reform process which began last year.
She lauded the critical role played by the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) in the reorganisation process of JAPTU. She added that the GSA will collaborate with the GPHA to form a committee to come out with timelines and the roadmap for the election of substantive executives to steer the affairs of the Union.
The Vice President of JAPTU, Alhaji Babayaro Shamsu, who led the delegation thanked the GSA for its commitment to the reform process. He said the Union will continue to deepen its relationship with the GSA for the benefit of all stakeholders in the shipping and logistics industry.
The reform process, when completed, will among others bring transparency to the operations of the Union and also promote cohesion among the various transport associations.
Formed 15 years ago, JAPTU is an umbrella body of operators of inland transit haulage transport services. Its vision is to become a professional and reliable transit trade facilitator in the West African sub-region that delivers competent haulage services in accordance with international best practices to guarantee the safe and timely delivery of cargo.
The Union is comprised the Ghana Haulage Transport Owners’ Association (GHATOA), Ghana Haulage Transport Drivers’ Association (GHTDA), Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) – Tema Port, Organisation des transporteurs routiers du Burkina (OTRAF), Conseil Malien des Transporteur Routers (C.M.T.R), Syndicat National des Transporteurs Mechandise du Niger (S.N.T.M.N) and some thirteen (13) affiliate members.
