A group of Taxi Drivers in the Tamale metropolis on Tuesday went on a demonstration to register their displeasure about the business activities of tricycle motor bikes, popularly called motor king operators, in the metropolis.
The taxi drivers argued that the operations of the motorking and yellow tricycle motor bikes also known as president ‘Mahama’s camboo’ in conveying people in the metropolis, are affecting their daily activities.
Commuters who patronize the tricycle operators’ services were left stranded while taxi drivers and tricycle riders engaged in a fracas. A timely police intervention prevented a rider from being lynched.
The rampaging taxi drivers went to almost all major streets that tricycle motor bikes ply, ordering their operators to stop carrying passengers and in some instances physically abused the tricycle riders.
The taxi drivers further argued that the use of a tricycle as a means of transport contravenes the law, as contained in Section 128 of the Ghana Road Traffic Regulation 2012, (L.I) 2180.
The angry taxi drivers could not understand why tricycle operators operate without registration numbers, no riding licenses and sometimes overload passengers, all of which are against road safety regulations.
They claimed that those operating the tricycles are minors, aged between 12 and 15 years.
The taxi drivers said the tricycles, which cost over two thousand Ghana cedis each, have no insurance, no taxi cab symbol and Driver and Vehicle licensing Authority (D.V.L.A) Stickers on them.
It took the metropolitan police commander and his men several hours to calm down the angry taxi drivers at the main taxi rank after they had vowed to unleash violence on the tricycle operators.
A spokesperson for the angry taxi drivers, McCarthy Frimpong spoke to Zaa News after a crunch meeting with the police over the matter, said they have suspended all their activities and are waiting for the outcome of the police.
Mr McCarthy said all the tricycle operators invade taxi drivers’ territory and yet they are allow to operate.
The President, John Dramani Mahama during his regional tour dubbed ‘ #TouchingLives #TransformingGhana tour entered into the Upper West Regional capital-Wa with the tricycle.
The Northern Regional Director of the National Road Safety Commission, Alexander Ayetah said his outfit and other stakeholders are mapping up a strategy to clamp down on their activities especially, minors riding it.
