Transport Unions Vow to Shut Down Accra on September 16 Over CMB Eviction Threat
Ghana’s major transport unions, including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and allied groups, have announced a complete withdrawal of services in Accra starting Tuesday, September 16, in protest against the alleged eviction of drivers from the Central Business District (CMB) by a private developer.
The action, described as a “massive demonstration,” aims to petition President John Dramani Mahama at Jubilee House to intervene and protect long-standing lorry stations and trading spaces.
Union leaders, speaking to journalists on September 15, warned that the standoff could paralyze the capital’s transport network, affecting thousands of commuters. The eviction, they claim, has already halted trading and deprived families of livelihoods, with portions of the land—occupied for decades—gradually ceded to developers for malls and apartments.
Chairperson of the Containers Owners Association emphasized, “We’ve had enough—we won’t allow anyone to take our means of survival.” The unions plan a march to Jubilee House, halting all CBD operations in solidarity until resolution.
This escalation echoes past evictions, like the 2010-2011 Railway Dwellers crisis, where thousands faced displacement without alternatives.
Authorities have not commented, but the protest risks widespread disruptions amid Accra’s traffic woes.
