Accra ‘Trotro’ drivers on strike [Photos]

Commercial drivers in most parts of Ghana’s capital, Accra on Monday refused to move their vehicles in protest against a directive by the Driver and Vehicular Licensing Authority (DVLA).

The drivers are accusing the officials of the DVLA of extortions saying it is making life unbearable for them.

Chairman of the Ghana Committed Drivers Association, Charles Mensah told Citi News that “It is DVLA that issues road worthy certificate to us and before you can obtain that sticker, you have to pass on a machine. When we go there, we don’t pass because of the unmotorable roads we are working on, it is devastating.”

He said “the other bad aspect of it is that the officials who usher the cars through the machine, extort money from the drivers. The system is not good.”

Charles Mensah lamented that “they [DVLA] are worrying us with the new biometric road worthy sticker, our license and the seat belts that should be put in all trotro seats,” he added.

Most bus terminals visited by Citi News saw passengers in long queues but no vehicles to convey them to their various destinations.

Passengers including workers and school children have been stranded at the various bus terminals in the region.

Notable areas that have been badly affected include, Ashaiman, Madina, Nungua, Dansoman, Achimota, among others.

Some passengers have resorted to walking long distances to work and other destinations instead of waiting in the long queues.

Citi News, Elvis Washington reported that some of the drivers in Ashaiman blocked roads in the area.

Citi News’ Lorencia Nkrumah tweeted that the situation has caused massive traffic from the motorway roundabout linking Ashaiman and its surrounding areas.

Meanwhile, some workers and students affected by the exercise have had no choice than to walk to their various destinations while others have returned home.

Massive traffic at motorway roundabout from Ashaiman, Prampram et al Its crazy!!! @benkoku @Citi973 @JustNanaama pic.twitter.com/stYTbcO9Lx

— Lorrencia Nkrumah (@lorren_nkrumah) June 1, 2015

Police now arrive to ensure law and order #Ashaiman #citicbs @Citi973 pic.twitter.com/W2RmONocP9 — Lorrencia Nkrumah (@lorren_nkrumah) June 1, 2015

Traffic has now started from Tema end of Motorway! People will be late for work!!! #citicbs .@Citi973

— Lorrencia Nkrumah (@lorren_nkrumah) June 1, 2015

@Citi973 there’s something going on in Ashiaman pic.twitter.com/Ahj6G07TQd — Kwaku Gyampo (@andriod19888) June 1, 2015

@Citi973 this atomic down pic.twitter.com/OEhS5fmntA

— Jeff Amoah (@jeff_interkudzi) June 1, 2015

@Citi973 Trotro drivers are on strike so people have taken their destinies into their own hands… 😄😂😃 pic.twitter.com/Y9SS2yd704 — Abdul (@myabdulgh) June 1, 2015

@Citi973 #CitiCBS Tema community 1 El Paso transport station. No cars. Queues of people waiting for over an hour! pic.twitter.com/6OICo6sB0b

— Maame B. (@m_boaduaa) June 1, 2015

@Citi973 I even walk from ashaiman to 37 military hospital for me to pick trotro to accra polytechnic!! — Shatta bwoy (@appa_bwoy) June 1, 2015

@benkoku good morning the situation at MADINA TAXI RANK, this usually not the case. #citiCBS@kojo_02pic.twitter.com/ni2R2Bnhyh

— Kwame Matti (@KwameMatti) June 1, 2015

@benkoku Achimota bus terminal 3y3 serious oo. #CitiCBS pic.twitter.com/Hktq0h9GML

— Ahmed Samani (@_samAnI_) June 1, 2015

@Citi973 At Dome Crossing no trotro is allowed to load. This is how some manage to go to work. pic.twitter.com/B7wni7S2nL

— benjamin nurupuo poo (@poorenuru37) June 1, 2015

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin