Most lorry stations in Accra congested Most lorry stations in Accra congested

Accra, Jan. 7, GNA Lorry stations in Accra are congested, as passengers, cars, buses and vendors struggled for space.Ghana News Agencys monitoring of major stations in Accra on Tuesday revealed.At most of the stations visited, GNA observed that drivers had parked haphazardly at the stations as they waited for their turn to load or off-load passengers.Some of the lorry stations visited included; Tema Station near the Ministries, Aflao Station at Tudu, 37 Military Hospital Station, Dansoman Last Stop, Agbogbloshie Market Station, La Station, Accra New Town Station, Madina-Zongo Junction Station and Nkrumah Circle stations.At the Tema Station, GNA noticed that drivers had taken over the roads in front of the Ghana Health Service and Rent Control offices, whilst structures at the station were fast deteriorating.In the midst of the confusion, food vendors had taken over structures meant for passengers. Likewise, second hand clothing and shoes sellers had also pitched camp on the pavements.At Dansoman, GNA noticed that most commercial vehicles were in bad state. Madam Selina Mensah, a passenger expressed concern about the condition of Benz buses that conveyed passengers to circle.She said in spite of the poor condition, passengers were forced to adjust and sit in rolls of five even if there was no space for the fifth person.I was forced to sit in a roll in a Benz bus from Dansoman last stop to circle...I suffered before getting to my destination, she stated.Mr Edward Kottey, a shop owner at the La Station revealed that they were charged a fee of GHȻ20.00 at the end of every month to enable the station master to clean the place but he sometimes failed to do so.Madam Gloria Donkor, recounted to the GNA the frustrations workers went through daily to and from work, adding that, you either join the long queue to board a trotro or pick a taxi.At the Madina Station, GNA noticed that abattoir and scrub dealers had invaded a portion of the station.Mr Tahiru Iddrisu, Station Master for the Madina-Tema-Lapaz-Kosoa Union said the conditions at the station had been improved, even though it was not the best.We pay taxes to the urban council, but our chairman does everything by himself, he added.Mr Iddrisu stated that this had resulted in misunderstanding between drivers and officers of the urban council, whose duty was to collect taxes.Mr Kofi Kwakye, one of the drivers at the station said government officials took monies from them on daily basis, yet when it rains there is no place to park our vehicles.When it rains passengers do not come here, due to the bad nature of the area, he added and urged government to help them to develop the station.Mr Reuben Awusi Mbroh, Public Relation Officer for the La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly disclosed that drivers paid GHȻ10.00 daily.Mr Kofi Acquaye, Accra New Town Station Master, said the station was open to only registered members and cars in their union to enable passengers to retrieve lost items.People have been coming with complaints, but with just a phone call and good description of the car, driver and mate, lost items are returned to their owners, he added.GNA Read Full Story