The Federation of Ghana Traders has called on the government to urgently intervene and restrain commercial drivers from taking the law into their own hands by forcibly removing traders and hawkers from bus stops nationwide, following the implementation of the Traffitech-GH traffic enforcement system.

According to the Federation, although traders and hawkers have no legal right to occupy designated bus stops for commercial activities, commercial drivers equally lack the authority to forcibly eject them, describing such actions as unlawful and a potential threat to public order.

In a statement signed by its founder, Takyi Addo, the Federation expressed concern over what it described as emerging acts of vigilantism among some commercial drivers in response to the implementation of the Traffitech-GH system.

The Federation warned that allowing commercial drivers to assume the responsibilities of legally mandated authorities could lead to unnecessary confrontations between transport operators and traders, potentially disrupting economic activities nationwide.

It stressed that the responsibility for regulating trading activities at bus stops and removing unauthorised traders rests with the appropriate local government authorities and not commercial drivers.

"The Federation is of the view that even though traders and hawkers at bus stops have no right to be there, it is equally not right for commercial drivers to remove them," the statement emphasised.

The Federation therefore urged the government to engage the leadership of commercial transport operators, traders and other relevant stakeholders to address concerns surrounding the implementation of the traffic enforcement system.

It maintained that the successful implementation of Traffitech-GH would require cooperation, discipline and a shared commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that the initiative does not unnecessarily interfere with commercial activities and the movement of goods and services.

The Federation further cautioned that the introduction of technology-driven traffic enforcement measures should not become a justification for individuals or groups to undertake enforcement activities outside the law.

"We urge the government to engage commercial drivers and their leadership to address any concerns, promote compliance and ensure that the implementation process is conducted in an orderly manner," the statement said.

According to the Federation, effective communication and coordination among government agencies, transport operators and the trading community are essential to preventing avoidable confrontations and disruptions that could negatively affect businesses, traders and consumers.

It acknowledged that technological interventions such as Traffitech-GH could play an important role in improving road traffic management, strengthening enforcement and promoting discipline among road users.

However, it insisted that the introduction of such systems must be supported by extensive public education, stakeholder consultations and clearly defined operational guidelines to ensure that all affected parties understand their responsibilities.

The Federation expressed the view that failure to properly engage stakeholders could generate unnecessary tensions between commercial drivers and traders, particularly those who depend on activities around transport terminals and bus stops for their livelihoods.

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It consequently appealed to the government to take immediate steps to address the concerns of commercial drivers while ensuring that the enforcement of regulations governing public spaces remains the responsibility of legally authorised institutions.

The Federation also called on commercial drivers to exercise restraint and avoid actions that could undermine law and order, stressing that grievances arising from the implementation of Traffitech-GH must be addressed through lawful and established channels.

It reiterated that protecting the interests of traders and ensuring compliance with traffic regulations should not be treated as competing objectives, but rather as responsibilities requiring cooperation among all stakeholders.

"The Federation of Ghana Traders therefore appeals to the government to take the necessary steps to resolve the concerns surrounding the system and ensure that all parties act responsibly in the interest of the national economy," the statement added.

The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the government, transport operators and other relevant institutions to safeguard the interests of traders and promote a peaceful and stable business environment.

It maintained that a coordinated approach to implementing Traffitech-GH would help protect commercial activities, maintain public order and ensure that the objectives of the traffic enforcement initiative are achieved without unnecessary conflict.

AM

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