Ban on Pragya not meant to collapse job - MCE

Correspondence from Eastern Region

The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of New Juaben South, Isaac Apaw-Gyasi, has said that the ban on Pragya activities in the municipality was to reorganise riders and to sensitise them on COVID-19 but not keep them out of business.

He clarified that most of the Pragya riders were gleefully flouting all the protocols against the spread of COVID-19 without recourse to their own safety and that of their passengers.

"...a lot of them are not following the protocols. We were all told that if you have a car that takes three people, you are supposed to take two and if you have a car that takes four people, you are supposed to take three; in other words, trying to exercise some form of social distancing.

"It may interest you to note that I have called them to advise them. Actually, I have visited them, had an encounter with them...so a lot of education has gone on," he narrated as he expressed disappointment that the riders were not heeding to advice.

According to the MCE, it has become difficult for the Assembly to track activities of the riders because most of them do not belong to any transport union.

He said the worst of it all was that most of them did not have licenses of operation but were on the road working.

"What we notice is that a lot of them don't belong to any group and therefore are all floating riders and that makes it difficult to keep track of their activities and were without licenses.

"We all have to be proactive to protect the people of New Juaben, so, I held a meeting with them and told them about the complaints that have come from the citizens.

"I sat down with the Emergency Response team...and a decision was taken that we invite their organization and talk to them so that there could be some break in their activities for us to use the period to sensitise them one more time and also for them to know the dreaded COVID-19," he said.

Mr. Apaw-Gyasi emphasised that at the meeting, the committee and the riders together agreed that they go on break for the two weeks while a comprehensive data is organised on them as well as educate them on dangers of not observing the social distancing.

He disclosed that the Emergency Response Committee would meet with the riders within the week to take further decisions as to whether or not the two weeks ban would be reduced.