TRANSPORTERS ABANDON NEW STATION …As KMA fails to apply By-Laws
From Issa Alhassan, Kumasi
FRUSTRATIONS FROM the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) and the Ashanti Regional Secretariat of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) have resulted in the refusal by transport owners to make use of a newly constructed bus terminal, established to take care of drivers who were evicted from the Race Course market.
A million dollar worth bus terminal at Old Suame has been left unused since its inauguration some few months ago, because the Transport Commission of the KMA have failed to apply the rules governing the use of pavements and other unauthorized places as bus terminals.
Currently, transport owners who were evicted from the Race Course Market to pave way for the Sun Citi Project have taken over major streets of Kumasi, making traffic and business activities in the major streets very uncomfortable.
Feeling the frustration and inconveniences transport operators at Bawku, Tamale, Wa, Yendi and other stations were going through, a private developer, Mr. Kwame Boampong, who is also into transport operation agreed to construct a bus terminal at Suame to provide suitable place for the drivers to operate.
Even though the new place has been fitted with all the necessary logistics needed to facilitate transport business in the area, transport owners, especially the GPRTU, have refused to operate at the terminal, and are still occupying main roads and unauthorized places in the city.
Information gleaned by The Chronicle indicates that though individual drivers are ready to move to the new place, some leading members of the GPRTU and the KMA have been thwarting their decision, as a result of some financial benefits which they are demanding from the developer.
According to information, the developer initially had an agreement with the regional executive of the GPRTU that the place, upon completion, would be managed by him and the proceeds shared, based on certain percentages, until the cost for the construction of the facility was re-couped.
The idea to establish and operate the new bus terminal, according to information, has been met with strong approval by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who encouraged Mr. Boampong to embark on the project, as he (Boampong) had his full support.
At the moment, it is the duty of the KMA to enforce the law banning vehicles and drivers from operating at unauthorized places, but this has not been forthcoming, giving these recalcitrant operators the freedom to undertake their unlawful activities.
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