Floating drivers, loading boys in Ashaiman harass passengers

Ashaiman, March 29, GNA - Floating 'tro-tro' drivers and loading boys, who are not members of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), on Tuesday prevented passengers from boarding vehicles at Ashaiman in protest against alleged police harassment.

They complained that the police arrested them whenever they stopped to pick passengers along the roads because, apart from the two main lorry stations, there were no bus stops on any of the roads in Ashaiman.

The loading boys, who collect money from floating drivers after loading their vehicles, also saw the police action as depriving them of their livelihood. As early as six o'clock in the morning, they mounted roadblocks at vantage points, including the main entrances to Ashaiman township and lorry stations, forcing drivers to offload their passengers.

The situation created transportation problems for workers and traders in the early hours of the day until the police moved in by mid-day to bring the situation under control.

The police arrested 15 people, one for stoning a car, two for assaulting drivers, and the rest for causing obstruction. Mr Robert Michael Nuertey, an Executive Officer of the GPRTU, said the situation compelled him to walk from Community 11 to the VALCO Flats area.

Taxi drivers had a field day as they took advantage of the situation to do brisk business at the "VALCO Flats tro-tro" station as there were no buses to pick passengers.

Chief Superintendent Agnes Sika-Nartey, Acting Regional Police Commander for Tema, described the drivers' action as complete lawlessness, which could not be allowed to continue.

She advised the floating drivers to register with the lorry parks and pick passengers there instead of loading at unauthorised spots, which blocks the free flow of traffic.

Nii Armah Ashietey, Tema Municipal Chief Executive, said the problem of Ashaiman was not the availability of lay-bys but the activities of loading boys at unauthorised places. He said Ashaiman developed before any planning was done, making it difficult to provide some facilities, adding that there has, however, been an attempt to enhance development in the area.

Nii Ashietey said a new lorry station being constructed at Ashaiman would soon be commissioned.