Ashanti GPRTU seeks collaboration with Government to clamp down on absurd fares

The Ashanti Regional executives of Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has expressed dismay over the absurd transportation fare charged by some unscrupulous commercial drivers, during “rush hours”, within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs.

This is based on the avalanche of complaints by passengers as well as first-hand experience by the Union staff.

The executives are, therefore, calling for the dialogue between the government (herein the Regional Minister) and the Union to regulate the pricing of transportation within the region to help economic growth.

The Union stated it would need the backing of the governor to embark on the exercise, since it does not have the authority to embark the said course.

Addressing the media at the Regional Secretariat of the union, Sumaila Boakye, the Regional Chairman, GPRTU, noted that over the years his outfit had been accused  of this societal menace (charging of inappropriate fares), stressing that drivers who charge absurdly are not registered members of the Union.

They are rather drivers popularly called “waawaa drivers” (drivers who are not affiliated to any transport union).

Chairman Boakye indicated that currently there are 24 Transport Unions in the Ashanti region alone, unlike the other regions, with many of these Unions not having an office, thus making it difficult to ensure these drivers abide by the Unions’ code of conduct and urged the government to help identify the legitimate unions among the 24.

The Regional Chair revealed that the new Kejetia Market, popularly known as Dubai, cannot accommodate vehicles as it used to be in the past.

He further indicated that fuel prices have gone down as well as spare parts, easing the burden of drivers, and   the union would like passengers to also benefit from this downward adjustment of fares.

To ensure drivers charge and maintain the prescribed fares, the Regional Chair has called for a dialogue between the government and the Union to devise ways to end the era where passengers have to board three vehicles to get to their respective destinations.

Chairman Sumaila Boakye reiterated that his outfit was ever-ready to collaborate with government to stop the menace to clear GPRTU’s image.

Meanwhile, the GPRTU chairman has announced that effective immediately, the registration fees for drivers to join the Union has been waived to help “waawaa drivers” to join the union as an effort to clamp down on this societal menace.

He indicated that the Union will soon issue out stickers (with distinctive features, not easy to replicate) to its members, in an effort to fish out the unscrupulous drivers to face the law.

From Oswald P Freiku, Kumasi

 

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