The International Transport Federation (ITF) on Wednesday called on managements of transport organisations to attach maximum importance to conditions of service of transport workers for job satisfaction and continuous loyalty.
Addressing members of the union in Accra during the ITF Road Action Week, Mr Emmanuel Armstrong Mensah, Coordinating Secretary of the Federation of Transport Unions (FTU) of the Trades Union Congress, said transport organizations should employ instructors for their training schools to give their drivers periodic training to equip them with requisite skills.
The celebration on the theme: "Respect and Safety Now" begins a week-long annual event (October 6-12) set aside by the ITF to sensitize all road users and stakeholders in the road transport industry and focus on strategies and practices that need to be adopted to achieve greater sustainable growth and development in the industry.
Mr Mensah called on members to reposition themselves and focus on global trends and render best services to their various organizations.
He said there was the need for collaboration between stakeholders to ensure that their rights and aspirations became the centre stage in all operations and activities of the industry.
The problems confronting the industry, he noted, should be solved through collective efforts by government, employers and transport unions through continuous sensitization and adequate training.
He said problems such as drunk driving, speeding, blatant disregard for road signs and lack of maintenance were some of the causes of carnage on the roads that created a negative image for the transport industry.
Mr Mensah said if this was not checked it would discourage investors from doing business in the industry.
He urged drivers and road users as well as stakeholders to ensure that the driving profession was completely devoid of acts that wrecked havoc on the roads.
Mr Mensah urged drivers to be professional and strain every nerve and continue to remain loyal to their organisations so that they could meet their set target to promote growth in the industry.
Mr Noble Appiah, Executive Director of the National Road Safety Commission, said road safety involved the human resource base of the country and should be a matter of concern to all.
He urged drivers to change their attitudes, be disciplined, cautious and act responsibly on the roads. Policy makers and sector organizations should also attach urgency and commitment to road safety issues.
Mr Edward Lord-Ativor, Managing Director of Intercity STC Coaches Limited, said it was the responsibility of drivers to stop the unnecessary bloodshed on the rods by making sure they imbibed the culture of ensuring that passengers got to their destinations alive.
"We need to ensure good driving habits; we need to ensure that long hours of driving are curbed, put a stop to drunk driving and ensure discipline on our roads."
Mr Lord-Ativor appealed to government to intervene and assist drivers who carried passengers across the borders on a daily basis.
"It is a known fact that doing business in neighbouring countries is a different ball game altogether," he said, and appealed to transporters to be cautious of HIV and AIDS and protect themselves in the course of their duties.
Source: Ghana News Agency
