NUTOG Wants gov’t to Hastens Lay down Rules and Regulations for Tricycle Operations
From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi
The National Union of Tricycle Operators (NUTOG), asking the government, specifically the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to quickly put in place rules and regulations for tricycle transport.
Mr Seidu Mubarak, the Chairman of the Union explained that NUTOG is a union that represents people who operate tricycles, which are often used for transportation in cities. Think of tricycles as small vehicles that can carry passengers or goods, similar to tuk-tuks in other countries.
What do they want?
NUTOG wants the NDC government to speed up the process of creating laws that would officially recognize and regulate how tricycles can operate. They believe that having a clear set of rules would help protect tricycle operators from problems they currently face.
Why is this important
Right now, without official regulations, tricycle operators are facing many challenges, such as.Harassment and Intimidation: Some tricycle riders are being bullied or threatened by others, which makes it hard for them to do their jobs safely.
– Extortion: This means that some people, including some officials, are demanding money from tricycle operators in exchange for allowing them to work, which is unfair and illegal.
Unfair Treatment: There are rules that seem to target tricycles without proper legal backing, meaning they are not officially recognized by law. For example, in Kumasi, a city in Ghana, tricycles were banned from certain busy areas without any legal justification.
Because there are no clear regulations, tricycle operators feel vulnerable and are often treated unfairly. They have complied with the rules imposed by local authorities, hoping for a chance to discuss their situation, but so far, that hasn’t happened.
This situation leads to misunderstandings, where people think tricycles are just a way for the government to collect money, rather than a legitimate mode of transport that needs support and regulation.
NUTOG is urging the government to act quickly to create laws that would help protect tricycle operators and ensure they can work without fear of mistreatment. This would not only help the operators but also improve the overall transport system in cities.
