The newly appointed deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Alexander Ackon has issued a stern warning to unregistered drivers in the Kumasi metropolis to desist from the act and join recognized unions or risk being sanctioned.
These drivers, popularly known as “waawaa” drivers, who are essentially private commercial drivers, do not charge at a fixed fare for a journey as drivers belonging to recognized unions do.
Instead they charge separate rates for different stops, which sometimes results in passengers paying a higher amount than they would have if they traveled the same distance in a union vehicle.
Describing them as illegal, the Deputy Minister said these acts by some drivers, create unnecessary traffic and congestion.
He added that “the need to halt the inconveniences the situation posed to passengers led to the introduction of what was referred to as Legislative Instrument 21 AD.”
He stated that there was a provision which stated that drivers could only pick passengers at designated terminals making the existence of unregistered drivers illegal.
Hon. Ackon issued this warning to the operators of some transport terminals in the metropolis when he presented them with destination boards and stickers at a short ceremony in Kumasi.
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana