Greater Accra MMDAs set to enforce transport services laws
Thirteen Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Greater Accra Region has embarked on a joint enforcement campaign to enforce the Urban Transport Services bye-laws.
The MMDAs are the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Tema Municipal Assembly (TMA), Ashiaman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA), Adenta Municipal Assembly (AdMA), Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA) and La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal Assembly.
Others are Ga West Municipal Assembly (GWMA), Ga South Municipal Assembly (GSWA), Ga Central Municipal Assembly (GCMA), Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal Assembly (LekMA), La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly (ASEMA) at Kasoa and Kpone Katamanso District Assembly (KKDA).
The law requires that all providers of urban public transport services, including trotro’s and taxis operating in these metropolises have the requisite valid permits issued by the relevant assemblies.
The Steering Committee on Urban Transportation in Accra (SCUTA) headed by Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, made this known at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday.
He said in the interest of public safety, security and order, those who provide passenger transport services to the general public should be known to the authorities and would be held accountable to set standards and conditions as prescribed by the assemblies.
“We will like to stress that there would be no restrictions on the free movement of all properly registered taxis and other public transport vehicle within the Greater Accra metropolis,” The Mayor said.
Dr Vanderpuije said despite the general cooperation from the main operator unions, who have organized themselves into registered groups, some floating drivers refused to agree to the norms of collective identity for better management of public transport services.
He said MMDAs have the right to determine who it permits to operate urban passengers transport services within its jurisdictions, adding that, the Local Government Act 1993 (Act 46) allows the assemblies to make bye-laws and regulations to help govern and regulate transport services.
The Mayor said a total of 426 trotro and taxi groups have now registered and issued with permits to operate throughout the metropolises, whilst 33 new taxi groups have been formed and are being assisted to comply with the requirements.
Dr Vanderpuije said 1,154 taxi drivers, who had no operating permits have regularized their operations by joining recognized unions, associations and other entities.
He reiterated government and SCUTA’s commitment to urban passenger transport services, and that, the implementation was not intended to deprive the operators of their businesses.
He said the first phase of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) would start from July 1, 2013 from Amasaman to the Central Business District.
Source: GNA
The government is always seeking for ways to impose more levy on the struggling people. Instead of eliminating old and dangerous Trotros, they will tax them and retain them on the road. Some of the Trotros operating on the road are extremely in bad condition. It can easily tear your best clothes, sitting position is not recommended for humans. Government should seek the welfare of the people first before tax.