Chronicles of the Taxi Driver: In focus - Comm. 5

It is a well known truth that transport business is a very common and highly patronized sector that employs huge numbers in Ghana. In fact, unlike in past years where there was huge demand for the very few transport means available, now you are sure to see a taxi or minibus (trotro) at every nook and crony in our neighbourhoods transporting people to and from their destinations.

For that matter, we can say for a fact that Taxi and Mini bus (trotro) driving has become a viable commercial activity. To make readers appreciate this better, let’s try to learn the basic meaning of business. A simple business definition says that business occurs when someone does something (service) for profit.

As soon as the word ‘service’ appears in a statement, it warrants payment in exchange. If there is such an exchange, then the ideal is for the service provider in this case ‘Taxi Driver’ to ensure that he or she is delivering a service that is worth paying for; that is what a business person will term as value for money.

Unfortunately, because of the exchange of value (cash) involved, either party expect an appreciable amount of satisfaction which to my understanding means that driver takes an agreed upon fare with the expectation of driving commuters comfortably and safely to their destination.

Generally, Customer Satisfaction in Ghana is currently not the best yet many manage to deal with the situation as best as can be. I must state that I have travelled to many regions in Ghana Ashanti, Central, Western, Greater Accra, Eastern region to Bono Ahafo regions and have patronized taxis so many times without encountering the gross haughtiness and arrogance depicted by the drivers in Tema, particularly Community 5. They make it appear as though they convey passengers to their destinations for Free!!!

I have anonymously come face to face with many of their uncouth actions towards passengers countless times and have being thinking hard on why all the million taxis I’ve ever patronized in other regions act differently.

Would you believe that on a simple issue of change (Balance of money paid by passengers) almost always warrants nasty reactions of bad behavior amidst indecent insults rained on customers by drivers?

Would you also believe that some of the drivers roughly brush away the hands of passengers who may be struggling to open the door knob of the taxi when alighting from their vehicle? They mostly give the excuse that passengers do not handle door knobs well and may break them. Ebei! Can these same drivers guarantee that they use and maintain all state owned property with impeccable handling? Interestingly, drivers are mostly the culprits of the public urination going on around the cities! So then, they deliberately do wrong and expect no sanctions, but ill-treat others for non- deliberate actions they presumably anticipate will cost them? Very funny indeed!

Small advice to you Mr. Comm 5 Driver, “If you throw a ball at a wall, it bounces back to you.”

Can you even imagine that a driver insulted a noble young man and would not listen to other passengers who tried to calm him down because the victim tapped his shoulder and handed over his fare instead of coaxingly singing romantically into his ear “ Sir comm5 driver, Can you pleeeeease take your money now because I want to alight here?” And that driver had the guts to insist that the guy’s action (tapping his shoulder gently to hand over money) did not show respect! Oho, so now people grudgingly and forcefully demand others to boot lick them for services they pay for?!!! Aba!

That is not all, at another time a woman banged the door after sitting in the taxi which sparked a driver’s anger at her. This led to loud outburst from the driver who would not listen to the many pleas from other passengers while he kept the poor tired passengers who probably were returning late from work. Then the unimaginable happened, one of the passengers asked the man to let go and take the rest of them to their destination as the action of the woman cannot be reversed and more so she had shown remorse and stated that it won’t happen again.

The man directed his anger on this young man and insisted he gets down from the taxi, yelling on top of his voice. Tempers rose as the young man lost control and threatened to put his fingers in the driver’s eyes. Ha ha… it was a really funny scene but a damn serious situation. Other drivers and passengers had to separate them to avoid a fist fight. Eventually, all the passengers exited the taxi and boarded another taxi to get to their homes. ‘Waaa wei nyinaa ani hwe he?”

It is obvious that most of the drivers are well advanced in age but with such an occupation as Taxi driving, you cannot laud your arrogance over people with the excuse of age!!! Because if for nothing at all, respect is earned and to a higher degree, you get back same reactions you mete out to others.

Unfortunately for them, I deliberately patronized other taxis from Comm 2, 10 and 12 and did not witness any of such arrogance as shown by Comm. 5 drivers. So I want to ask you, Comm 5 drivers, Why?!!

To be continued

By Kwasi Gross