Drivers complying with social distancing rules – GPRTU

The GPRTU says commercial bus drivers are complying with the social distancing measures announced by government.

There have been concerns in the public over drivers’ non-compliance as well as increment of transport fares.

Starr News on Wednesday reported that passengers of state transport firm STC are lamenting over the decision by the company to load to capacity despite the social distancing directives by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

According to the passengers, STC buses that picked 44 travellers before the Covid-19 pandemic is still picking same number today when the world is hooked on to social distancing protocols to combat the virus which has killed scores across the world.

Also, a commercial vehicle driver has been remanded by the Koforidua District Magistrate Court for stabbing a passenger to death over a disagreement on Social Distancing breaches.

Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Thursday, GPRTU Vice-President Robert Saba said he has observed drivers adhering to social distancing rules but not received reports of transport fare increments by some drivers.

He said “the drivers and the mates themselves are not insulated from the attack of this Covid-19. So, they are also afraid and therefore they will make sure that it is complied with”.

“I’ve seen a number of vehicles moving, I tried to look whether there is compliance of this social distancing and I can tell you that the vehicles, all that I saw, they are complying,” he indicated.

The GPRTU is scheduled to meet with the Transport Ministry soon to understand what can be done to make up for the difference that the social distancing will bring to the business life of commercial drivers and they accounting to the bus owners.