Drivers to demonstrate against KMA

Drivers at the Kejetia Terminal are appealing to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to stop the illegal loading point at the Pampaso filling station.

The drivers many of whom are furious have threatened to take to the streets to register their displeasure against the authorities who they accuse of ignoring their pleas.

The aggrieved drivers, who said they had met the Transport Commission several times on the issue, indicated that all their efforts to resolve the problem have proved abortive.

Some of the aggrieved Chairmen

In an interview with Today in Kumasi, the chairmen of the unions at the terminal expressed concern about the loading point, bemoaning that it was sad that KMA has allowed this practice to grow.

Referring to section 79 of Act 462 of the Local Government Act of 1993, the chairmen contended that the activities of the drivers at Pampaso was illegal per the KMA bye laws and hence their call for the operations to be halted.

The chairmen represented the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), Concern Transport Union, and the Mighty Transport Union. The rest are commercial drivers union of Ghana, King Jesus Drivers Union, Cooperative Drivers Union and the Redeemer Drivers Union.

Quoting a petition dated February 3, 2010 which they sent to the chief executive of KMA, a copy of which has been made available to Today, the chairmen said they were allowed to temporarily station at the Pampaso filling station to load to Enchi when the Kejetia terminal was under construction.

After the construction however, they were asked to leave for their former loading sites at the terminal. But, they said, another group occupied the Pampaso station some time later alleging that they were permitted by KMA to operate there, which the authorities have refuted.

However, what the chairmen could not comprehend was the lukewarm attitude of the assembly to the illegality going on at the place knowing a time would come when the drivers there would request a new station.

Today could not get the head of transport to react to the assertions made by the drivers as at the time of going to press his cell phone was still switched off.

STORY: FROM JAMES APPIAKORANG JNR., KUMASI