Vulcanizers to uplift charges

The Association Of Ghana Vulcanizers has hinted at a possible increment in their services.

The association gave the hint during its first meeting of the year which engaged vulcanizers from various places in Accra and some regions.

The decision by the association to increase its charges according to them was a result of an increase in the price of equipment and the high maintenance cost of the machines.

The Association revealed that the vulcanizers have over the years charge as low as one Ghana Cedi for checking of pressure and pumping of tyres and as low as 5 Ghana Cedis for other services.

According to them the low charges is having a negative effect on their daily income which has brought economic hardship to the members.

Mr Basiru Karimu, General Secretary of the Association

They added that the increase in their charges is a step in the right direction as it will better the lives of the vulcanizer and enable them to offer quality service to Ghanaians.

According to them vulcanizers have wives, children and pay utility bills like every citizen of Ghana.

The meeting also sorts to educate the Vulcanizers on tyre safety, the significance of gauge calibration and the importance of vehicle and road safety measures.

Addressing the participants, the General Secretary of the Association and the Chief Executive  Officer (CEO) of Barshok 10 Tyres Safety Services, Mr Basiru Karimu stated that the time has come for Vulcanizers in Ghana to come under one umbrella to help reduce road accidents through negligence.

He said the association will engage the government to deliberate and regularize the work of Vulcanizers and put in place structures to better their living standards.

Mr Basiru encouraged his fellow vulcanizers to invest in their profession and make the job more attractive disclosing that he started the vulcanizing job by the roadside but through investment, he has upgraded himself and his vulcanizing shops into a world standard one.

Mr Kwame Koduah, National Roads Safety Authority representative

He revealed that the association will help its members to excel and provide the needed support for them to upgrade themselves to the highest level.

Mr Basiru further revealed that the association has established a vulcanizing training Institute to train its members to have theoretical knowledge on the job adding that the training institution will as well equip other individuals who are interested in the vulcanizing profession.

The training Institute he said has been registered under NVTI and it will be awarding certificates to participating students.

On his part, the representative from the National Roads Safety Authority (NRSA), Mr Kwame Koduah disclosed that there is a new law that will look for institutional discipline and compliance to the matters of road safety, adding that there is a regulatory draft which will soon be taken to Parliament and vulcanizers are key partners that have been pencilled down.