Striking taxi drivers return to work

Tamale, May 11, GNA - Striking taxi drivers in the Tamale Metropolis have returned to work following interventions by the Regional Executives of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Acting Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Mohammed Amin Adam. The taxi drivers on Wednesday morning went on strike to protest against the five per cent transport fares approved by the National Working Committee of the GPRTU following the recent fuel price increase by the National Petroleum Authority.

During the strike some of the drivers who were against the five per cent increase prevented their colleagues who wanted to work by deflating the tyres of their vehicles and in some instances, breaking the windscreens of the taxis.

It took the intervention of the police and the military to return normalcy to the metropolis.

The aggrieved drivers said they were against the approved fares because they were too minimal and could not cover their operational cost.

Taxi drivers plying between the taxi rank and the Tamale Teaching Hospital for instance, started charging 2,500 cedis when the fuel prices were announced instead of the five per cent approved fare of 2,100 cedis.

Alhaji Amadu Lamusah the Regional Chairman of the GPRTU, Chief Zakaria Wemah, the Regional Vice-Chairman and Mr. Salifu Masahudu, Industrial Relations Officer, appealed to the drivers to exercise restraint and accept the approved fares and return to work. They told the drivers that the union was conducting a market survey on other operational cost and would soon come out with the realistic fares to keep them in business while also taking into account the plight of commuters.

Mr Mohammed Amin Adam, Deputy Northern Regional Minister and Acting Metropolitan District Chief Executive, expressed concern about the rowdy manner some of the youth in the Metropolis always wanted to settle disputes.

He said although the drivers had a legal right to demonstrate they should do it within the confines of the law.

Mr Adam said with Tamale as one of the venues for the "CAN 2008" football tournament, it would be an eyesore and disgrace to the country and the Metropolis in particular if visitors come in only to see how undisciplined and indecently dressed taxi drivers were. He therefore advised the drivers to "turn a new leaf" and learn to be courteous and respectful to their passengers.

Mr Adam commended the GPRTU executive for their timely intervention and assured them that the security agencies would continue to mount patrols to ensure that no one disturbed the peace. Mr Kwabena Gyamera-Yeboah, Deputy Northern Region Police Commander, reminded the public that any group of people who plan to hold a demonstration have to notify the police five clear days before the event.

He also reminded the drivers that they had no right to prevent other union drivers from working.

Mr Gyamera-Yeboah said during the riot, the police impounded six taxis that were left on the road blocking vehicular movement and that the drivers of those vehicles would be put before court.