Tro-tro and taxi drivers asked to charge approved transport fares

Kumasi, Dec 24, GNA - Many taxi and tro-tro drivers in the Kumasi metropolis and its environs have for the past three weeks taken advantage of Christmas to increase transport fare arbitrarily. The situation has caused problems for commuters who spend a lot of time looking desperately for transport.

Mr Rexford Ntim-Darko, a trader at Kejetia, speaking in an interview with the GNA described the action of the drivers as "uncalled for an unpatriotic".

He said in the era of positive change as is being preached by the government, drivers cannot take the law into their own hands and asked them to comply with the motor traffic rules and regulations and stick to the approved transport fares.

Mr Badu Nkansah, a 64-year-old man resident at Tafo, said it was unrealistic for drivers to increase transport fares and described their action as inhuman.

He appealed to the police and other law enforcement agencies as well as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) and others to assist in checking the drivers.

Chief Superintendent Augustine Gyenning, Ashanti Regional Commander of the Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) of the Gnan Police Service, said the police were aware of the problem and that efforts were being made to address it.

Chief Supt Gyenning said the police would deal with any driver involved in such acts and appealed to the passengers to report such drivers to the police.

Mr Michael Ambrose Appiah, Ashanti Regional chairman of the PROTOA, said the multiplicity of transport unions in the metropolis has been the major problem.

He said efforts were being made by the PROTOA to check its members and warned that such recalcitrant members caught would be sanctioned and disciplined.

Mr Issah Khaleepha, Principal Industrial Relations Officer of the Ashanti regional secretariat of the GPRTU, told drivers stop extorting monies from the travelling public and advised them to charge the approved fares.