GHANA, Monday, July 27, 2020/ https://africanpostonline.com/— President Akuffo-Addo in his 14th address to the nation on the country’s fight against the spread of the coronavirus, has lifted the restrictions in the transport sector. He said that commercial vehicles are to return to taking the normal number of passengers in their vehicles.
“In consultation with the Ministries of Transport and Aviation and the leadership of transport operators, Government has taken the decision to lift the restrictions in the transport sector, and allow for full capacity in our domestic airplanes, taxis, trotros and buses. The wearing of masks in vehicles and aircrafts, and the maintenance of enhanced hygiene protocols, remain mandatory,” he declared.
Prior to this recent development, the Road Transport Operators after consultations with the Ghana Private Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council, in March, announced some measures to ensure social distancing among passengers in commercial vehicles.
Among other things, this step was intended to ensure that the precautionary guidelines issued by the President on social distancing is followed in all public transport vehicles and terminals to prevent the spread of the virus.
As a way of ensure social distancing, commercial vehicles with 1-3 seater capacity could take only up to two and those with 1-4 or 1-5 seater capacity, could take only up to three passengers.
Following this order, commercial drivers lamented over the low revenue obtained due to decreased number of passengers in vehicles. On the basis of this, they requested for an increase tarrifs to make up for the losses made while complying with the social distancing protocols in their vehicles.
Deputy Transport Minister, Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, in consultation with transport operators, agreed on commuters to pay 15% extra in transport fares to account for the losses. The move was subsequently approved by the government and has been in operation since Saturday, July 11, 2020.
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I’m Deborah Aba Narkoah. I’m an avid reader, writer and public speaker.
