Commercial drivers in the Ashanti Region are yet to join the nationwide strike action by commercial drivers to protest against what they term as “unfair and unrealistic” regulations set by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
Most of the rivers who were doing their normal brisk business since the action started yesterday told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in a random interview that they would join their colleagues later but they were not clear as to why they had been hesitant though they indicated their support for the action.
In Kumasi, the nation's second largest city, the picture is different with free movement of commuters with usual bustle and hustle at the Kejetia terminal and Central Business District (CBD). The traffic situation on the major and arterial roads are normal.
Mr Kweku Asare, the station chairman of Ahodow/Daban, of the All Tops Transport Union said DVLA’s policy for all commercial drivers to fix seat belts in their vehicles before they are given licenses is not practicable as seat belts cannot be fixed in the city shuttle or ‘trotro’ cars.
The most disturbing of all the tall list of regulations agitating the drivers is the requirement that commercial drivers in the country should acquire at least Junior High School (JHS) certificates before they are given licenses to operate.
Mr Asare called for a review of that policy and a more practicable solution be adopted in view of the high illiteracy rate in the country that leaves the driving job in the hands of people with only minimum education who do not have funds to further their education.
He also complained of the lack of communication between the transport unions and government bodies in charge of transport services in the country and said this was not helpful to the transport industry.
Mr Yaw Appiah of the Abuakwa Taxi Station at Kejetia suggested that instead of the compulsory Junior High School certificate, the DVLA and Road Safety Commission should put up training centres that will offer informal training and educate drivers on road transport regulations.
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