Commercial use of tricycles still illegal - Judge reminds operators

Robert Addo, Presiding Judge of the Nkawie Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region has reminded the public especially tricycle (Pragia) riders against the use of that vehicle for commercial purposes.

He pointed out that regulatory processes to legalize the operations of tricycles (Pragia) for commercial purposes had not been finalised and that riders must be disciplined, law-abiding, and obedient to the police and other road regulators to ensure safety, sanity, and peace on the road.

Mr Addo gave the advice when two ‘Pragia’ riders – Ibrahim Abubakar, and Peter Asare were brought before the court by the Police with the charge of parking at unauthorised places and riding their tricycles without licenses at Nkawie.

They pleaded guilty to the charges and were convicted on their own plea and fined GHc600 each or serve nine months imprisonment in default of the fine.

Mr Addo emphasised that section 128, sub-sections one and two that prohibited the use of such vehicles for commercial purposes, had not been repealed and must be observed as such.

Police Inspector Kwaku Frimpong told the court that on June 27, this year, between the hours of 7:00 and 7:30am, personnel from the Nkawie Divisional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) were on their official patrol duties and saw the two riders having parked at a wrong place in front of the Nkawie central market.

He explained that they were ordered to move the vehicles to a different place, but they refused so a reinforcement team was called for their arrest, and at the police station, investigations conducted on them revealed they did not have licenses.

They were therefore processed, charged, and brought before the court.

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