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Set a day aside to celebrate drivers
Samuel Amoah
The National Deputy Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr Samuel Amoah is calling for a consideration of a day to be set aside and celebrated as ‘Driver’s Day.’
“That would encourage professionalism and go a long way to show the commitment of the country to ensuring road safety,” he said.
Mr Amoah told The Spectator in an interview that the call was not new in Ghana where days have been set aside to celebrate people in other professions for the contribution towards nation building.
“It would be a proud moment to call out private and commercial drivers who have driven responsibly on the road and prevent needless deaths for awards annually.
“Drivers who do not drink and drive, over speed, over load, do not ignore road signs, do not speak on the phone while driving, disrespect their passengers and other road users should be highly commended,” he said.
Mr Amoah believes that a ‘Driver’s Day’ celebration will among encourage more drivers to live up to expectations and become more conscious and responsible on the road.
He said on a daily basis, the GPRTU received calls of commendation for drivers who has acted and conducted themselves professionally.
“We are also quick to take punitive measures against those who have misconducted themselves or bring the name of the job into disrepute,” he stated.
He said if a driver carried many passengers from one place to the other successfully, it was considered a normal thing, however, if the unfortunate happens and lives were lost, the whole country takes them on.
Mr. Amoah said good works should be rewarded to serve as a motivation to those who are upholding the right standard to continue their good work.
He said it would also encourage more drivers to take their maintenance culture seriously because a vehicle in a right state for the road was equally important.
The PRO said the contributions of drivers in the area of the economy by carrying several workers to and from work daily and also carrying farm produce to the market to feed the nation was also enormous.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Ashaiman
Massive celebrations were recorded countrywide as the Black Stars opened their 2026 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Panama in Toronto on Wednesday.
Midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi scored the only goal of the match late in the game as he shot in a decent cross from substitute Brandon Asante.
The win gave Ghana a positive start in the competition, placing them in second position behind England, also with three points but with a superior goal aggregate.
After the final whistle, the streets and other viewing centres were turned into partying grounds as fans, mostly clad in the team’s paraphernalia, danced to several World Cup-themed music.
Others blew the vuvuzelas in joyous mood with others putting up a spirited ‘jama’ session.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the Adentan Constituency, Akosua Manu, has urged party members to move away from what she describes as an “entitlement mentality” and focus on unity, sacrifice and hard work as the party prepares for the 2028 general election.
In a statement titled “Is Loyalty a Queue?”, and posted on facebook, Ms. Manu argued that loyalty to the NPP should not be judged by how long a person has been in the party but by their contributions and commitment to its growth.
According to her, the NPP’s history shows that many of its leaders faced significant opposition from within the party before eventually leading it to electoral success.
She cited former President John Agyekum Kufuor as an example, saying he had to overcome resistance from influential figures within the party before winning power for the NPP in 2000.
Ms. Manu noted that after the party lost power in 2008, former President Kufuor faced criticism and accusations from some party members.
However, she said supporters eventually put their differences aside and worked together to rebuild the party.
She pointed to the experience of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who, according to her, faced opposition from some factions within the NPP despite his long service to the party.
“His trials were ten times what Kufuor endured,” she stated, adding that Akufo-Addo eventually overcame the challenges and became President of Ghana.
Turning to the NPP’s current flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Ms. Manu said he also faced resistance from different groups within the party while seeking leadership.
She praised Dr. Bawumia for contributing to policy-based political discussions in Ghana and for remaining composed following the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 elections.
According to her, party members must now rally behind him in the same way they supported former Presidents Kufuor and Akufo-Addo.
Ms. Manu, however, warned that internal divisions and a sense of entitlement remain major threats to the party’s future.
She argued that some party members place too much emphasis on how long individuals have belonged to the NPP rather than on their contributions and capabilities.
“This entitlement does not question impact. It does not ask what you sacrificed or what you built. It asks only how long have you been here,” she said.
The former parliamentary candidate cautioned that such attitudes could discourage committed members and prevent the party from selecting the best people for leadership positions.
She further called on the party’s incoming national executives to strengthen the NPP’s core values of sacrifice, honesty, integrity and dedication to national development.
Ms. Manu addressed the concerns of young party supporters, many of whom she said became discouraged following the NPP’s electoral defeat in 2024.
According to her, many young people remain eager to see the party return to power but are unwilling to support internal conflicts driven by personal ambitions.
She urged party elders to place the interests of the NPP above their individual goals and to demonstrate leadership that attracts rather than alienates members.
“The NPP is bigger than any one of us. It always has been. Our collective responsibility is to act like it,” she stated.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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