G.P.R.T.U. National Secretariat - Accra

Transportation can be described as a live wire, which injects power into the economy of one’s country to bring it to live, by providing the necessary machinery for development. Studies have proved that the efficiency of an urban society bears a direct relationship to the quality of its transportation system. In view of this one can conveniently say that efficient and reliable transportation has been one of the major challenges facing a developing urban community like Ghana. Road transport is the major means of movement for both cargo and passengers within the country, and here the role of private road transport can only be described as crucial, accounting for about 90% of this in Ghana. Private Road Transport Union (G.P.R.T.U) forms about 70%. The G.P.R.T.U. was formed to fore see the efficient management of private road transport in Ghana. Ghana in the last few decades has been plaqued by the problem of poor and inadequate road transportation system. These have lead to undue difficulties for passengers. Often times, it becomes necessary to find long queues at bus stops, tro-tro stations, taxi or public transport depots. People have to wait for long hours in queues to and from their various destinations. In some instances trucks meant for carting cargo were used to transport passengers, notably in the mid 80’s. Food items and cash crops were left to rot in the villages and their various points of production due to lack of adequate means of road transport to cart them to the urban centres and other market depots. The public transport system leaves much to be desired. A well organized private sector will serve as a catalyst to improve the public sector by means of effective competition to the public sector. In recent times the G.P.R.T.U. has become very instrumental in the road transport sector. The G.P.R.T.U. is also important in providing revenue, services and employment. In view of this herculean task the G.P.R.T.U at its last Quadrennial Delegates Conference decided on the need for a National Headquarters. The headquarters is to be situated in Accra, the administrative capital of Ghana. The study seek to critically assess the lack of a permanent administrative headquarters for the G.P.R.T.U of T.U.C. and attempt to find a design solution to the spatial insufficiency of the unions present national secretariat in Accra. Accra is the regional and administrative capital of Ghana. Accra houses the seat of the central government and for that matter is a very important region in Ghana. The city of Accra is highly urbanized and densely populated. The urban situation in Accra is coupled with a mixture of industrial, commercial civic and residential facilities. The G.P.RT.U. Of T.U.C. since its legal establishment on the 19th May 1967 has always had its nation secretariat in Accra. Also operating in Accra are other locals and branches of the G.P.R.T.U. For all these years the lack of its own administrative premises has been a major set back for the G.P.R.T.U. It is envisaged that such a complex will go a long way to improve on the services offered by the union. it will also be a revenue generating facilities for the union. Improved services and revenue will in turn go a long way to bear on road transport in general and further improve the economy of Ghana.

Source: KNUST