Hundreds of passengers are currently stranded at the Tarkwa main lorry station in Tarkwa, as commercial drivers who ply Tarkwa to Accra Takoradi, Agona, Mankessim, Cape Coast, Nzema and all other adjourning communities have refused to work.
The drivers say they won’t transport the passengers following what they describe as the constant refusal by authorities to allow them take the required passengers, or increase the transportation fares instead.
To observe the COVID-19 protocols, drivers were made to reduce the number of passengers a car can take – a decision the drivers say is having a toll on their sales. According to them, all the calls to get the appropriate authorities to come to their aid have fallen on deaf ears, and as such they have no option than to park their cars today.
Not even the plea of passengers on their readiness to pay more for the fares persuaded the drivers to rescind their decision.
“We are doing this because we can’t meet our daily sales, as fuel prices continue to increase without any increment in fares,” a driver who ply Tarkoradi to Tarkwa told our Reporter, Nana Yaw Kumi.
According to Nana Yaw Kumi, the drivers explained that though the passengers are ready to pay more, it should be approved by their mother body; the GPWeU.
“We are giving authorities two options ,its either we increase the transportation fares and reduce the number of Passengers, or we take our normal passengers and insist on the wearing of the nose mask a driver suggested.
Some Passengers also expressed their disappointment accusing the drivers for not making any official announcement before their decision.
“At least they should have informed us, I am supposed to see the Doctor this morning at Effia Nkwanta Hospital with my son who has an eye problem,” Maame Aba said.
Officials of the GPRTU in Tarkwa and Tarkoradi have refused to talk on the issue and its not clear if the drivers will be persuaded to stop their actions.
Source: Kumasionlinegh.com
