Embrace competition – Bawa Mogtari to Drivers

Commercial vehicle operators in the country should be open to competition and desist from putting up opposition to any action taken to improve transportation in the country, Deputy Transport Minister Joyce Bawa Mogtari has said.

In her view, “Competition in the transport sector is healthy as it will improve quality service and provide options to meet the needs of clients.”

She was reacting to the recent strike by the Ghana Committed Drivers Association. The group withdrew its services on Monday, September 19, in protest against the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system which dedicates a lane on roads to certain buses, thus preventing local commercial minibuses and taxis from using those lanes. The BRT is set to begin in November.

American multinational online transportation network Uber also commenced operations in Ghana on June 11, 2016.

Ghana joined about seven other African countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt and Kenya which currently have the service.

Some commercial drivers have been unhappy with all these developments on the local front.

Mrs Bawa Mogtari, who was a guest on Class FM’s Executive Breakfast Show (EBS) told the host, Prince Minkah that the introduction of Metro Mass Transit and other services were also met with stiff opposition.

She, however, urged commercial drivers in the country to co-exist with other providers of such services to make access to transport services easier for citizens.