ghana-highway-authority-strike-2024 Ghana Highway Authority workers plan an indefinite strike from November 12, 2024, threatening transport disruption and infrastructure damage.
Ghana faces a looming transportation crisis as Ghana Highway Authority (GHA) workers prepare for a nationwide strike, set to begin November 12 if their demands are unmet. This strike could severely impact the nation’s transport sector, suspending critical axle load monitoring and maintenance services across major highways, and posing risks to road safety, infrastructure, and economic stability.
The strike follows intense worker opposition to the National Roads Authority (NRA) Act 2024 (Act 1118), which seeks to merge GHA with the Department of Urban Roads (DUR) and Department of Feeder Roads (DFR). GHA workers issued a two-part ultimatum, demanding the removal of specific leadership figures within GHA and a revocation of the NRA Act. Without intervention, the absence of axle load monitoring alone could lead to rapid road deterioration as overloaded vehicles take advantage of the enforcement vacuum.
Dr. Samuel Mensah, a transportation policy expert, stressed the potential damage. “Even a few weeks without enforcement could lead to years of road deterioration,” he cautioned, highlighting possible billions in repair costs. Alongside concerns from infrastructure experts, the Ghana Haulage Transport Owners Association also warned of increased overloads, as the lack of axle regulation could encourage unsafe competition among operators.
In a high-stakes negotiation, Roads Minister Asenso Boakye met with GHA leaders in an attempt to prevent the strike, but discussions ended without resolution. While both parties showed a willingness to negotiate, the government remains committed to implementing road sector reforms, despite workers’ calls for halting these changes.
As the November 7 deadline nears, businesses, industry leaders, and citizens alike watch with apprehension, hoping for a solution that protects infrastructure, road safety, and economic progress.