By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has conducted a swoop on non-compliant commercial drivers as part of efforts to enforce reduced transport fares in Kumasi.
The special operation, led by the KMA Taskforce within the city’s main business district, resulted in the impoundment of 22 commercial vehicles. These included intra-city buses (locally known as ‘trotros’), taxis, and sprinter buses, whose drivers had failed to adhere to the approved transport fares. The impounded vehicles were taken to the premises of the KMA.
Speaking to correspondent Nicholas Osei-Wusu, the Head of the KMA’s Transport Department, Randy Wilson, said the operation followed a resolution passed by the KMA General Assembly aimed at sanitising the urban transport sector and protecting commuters as well as law-abiding terminal operators.
According to him, as a warning, owners of the impounded vehicles were made to pay fines ranging from 500 to 1,000 Ghana cedis before reclaiming their vehicles.
Mr Wilson explained that the crackdown was also necessitated by increasing public concerns and complaints about the impunity with which some drivers, especially itinerant ones unaffiliated with any recognised transport union, arbitrarily charge commuters inflated fares.
He warned that such operations would be carried out anytime the need arises, especially if drivers continue to disregard fare regulations.
“This is because boycotting them will not only discourage their exploitation for their parochial advantage.
They must as well report any driver who charges any fare outside what has been approved to the KMA for an action to be taken to sanitize the system.”
