According to a statement from the Police, some of the recalcitrant drivers were also detained while driving into oncoming traffic.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WOrTzn9MC2W32DwYDrU0CiYPpNuljxeX”]The statement, signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs for the Service, ACP David Eklu, added that the drivers were picked up various areas including Airport Aviation, Spintex, Pokuase, Amasaman and Accra Central between January 1 and 19, 2018.

“The Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180 of the Road traffic Regulation 74 (2) states that ‘a person shall not fit on a motor vehicle warning appliance other than the type approved by the Licensing Authority.”

“Any person who contravenes the regulation is liable to a fine of not more than 25 penalty units or to a term of imprisonment of not more than 30 days or both.”

The police say the crackdown on the drivers will ensure that sanity is brought to the roads.

They believe that the sanctions will serve as a deterrent to other potential offenders

Prior warning

In April 2017, the Ghana Police Service gave an ultimatum to persons who have unlawfully installed sirens in their vehicles to dismantle them or face the law.

According to the service, it has noted the unauthorized use of sirens and horns by some motorists in the country.

A statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs of the Police Service at the time, Superintendent Cephas Arthur, said only specific state vehicles, ambulance, bullion vans among others, are expected to have and use the sirens and horns.

It warned that institutions that have also installed and are using the sirens and horns must cease the practice or face prosecution.

Police shakeup

This latest statement comes after the Commander in charge of Central Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) for the Accra Region, DCOP Alphonse Adu Amankwa, was reassigned as part of a major police reshuffle on Thursday.

He will now head the Eastern Regional Regional Police Command, while the MMTU will now be headed by ACP Anderson Fosu Achaah.

Other notable reshuffles include George Akuffo Dampare’s move from his position as Director General of Police Operations to the Police Research and Planning Department.

He is to be replaced immediately by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Simon Afeku.

Rev. David Nenyi Ampah-Benin, Central Regional Commander, is now the Director-General of Police Special Duties.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Some car owners who had gone to register their vehicles at the DVLA’s offices in Accra expressed their frustration on Wednesday, after they noticed that they had been charged about GH¢108 for the First Aid Boxes.

[contextly_sidebar id=”69W7oRjmAdkrSJn8UBPCvo41IZpZkCvw”]However, speaking to Citi News‘ Philip Nii Lartey, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the DVLA, Francis Asamoah Tuffour, said the introduction of the levy was necessary to ensure the safety of road users.

“Research that we’ve conducted indicates that, about half of the vehicles we have in the country don’t have First Aid Kits. The slogan of DVLA is ‘Your safety is our concern.’ As an institution, we need to raise revenue for the state, but the safety of the drivers and occupants of the vehicle is our hallmark. So we are saying that we want to introduce this system so that the First Aid Kits will be in your vehicle so that in the event there’s a cut or accident or a minor injury, you can treat yourself before going to the hospital,” he said.

He denied suggestions that the charge was introduced by the DVLA to fleece the drivers in order to raise revenue for the Authority

“It is not a deliberate attempt to introduce the system to take money. The DVLA is not an institution that is so poor. We are thinking about the safety of drivers. There have been instances where accidents have been recorded and there’s no First Aid kit available. It’s worrying and as a country, we have to look at it. Things are changing and we have to move alongside,” he said.

‘More than just a First Aid Kit’

Francis Asamoah Tuffour also clarified that the amounts being charged covered not only the First Aid Kit but other items as well.

“All the components are factored into the amount and not just the First Aid Kit. There are about three or four items, the kit, the license pack and some others.”

He also insisted that there had been announcements of the new charge in the media prior to its implementation, dismissing claims that it had been sprung on the public.

“Once you go through the registration system, that’s where you pay for it. The whole thing started on Tuesday so for those who are saying they have no idea, they have to come again. Those who came on Tuesday attested to the fact that they paid. That notwithstanding, if they aren’t aware, it’s something that has been introduced, not for our sake but for their own safety,” he added.

“Prior to this, sometime last year, we had some media announcements with respect to this. The fact that they have not heard doesn’t mean that they are unaware of the system. Even if they are, they should just embrace the system for their own sake.”

‘Make First Aid Kits optional’

The Minority in Parliament has called on the government to halt the DVLA’s mandatory charges for the First Aid Kits.

The group’s spokesperson for Roads and Transport, Kwame Agbodza, believes that just like the towing tax, this new charge should not be mandatory.

“If we think towing is important but we expect people to take responsibility and do it by themselves, why are we selling First Aid boxes to them directly? Why don’t we ask them to go and buy it?” Mr. Agboza queried.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The six, who are all stationed at the Sekondi Police Regional headquarters, were caught on video collecting money from drivers at the Inchaban Barrier.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IFMz611dylCyjlXCqt4WjFDvJBERPHsz”]The Director-General of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), David Eklu, told the Daily Graphic that when the attention of the Ghana Police Service was drawn to the video, which had gone viral on social media, personnel of the PIPS were tasked to investigate the authenticity of the video.

He said a team was dispatched to Inchaban where the police personnel were identified and invited to appear before the PIPS in Accra this week for interrogation.

He, however, declined to mention the identities of the affected personnel.

Unprofessional conduct

Mr. Eklu made it clear that unprofessional conduct by police personnel went against the vision of the Ghana Police Service to be a world-class police service.

He reminded motorists that they were not obliged to give money to police officers on barrier duties or at any other duty point.

“As part of the measures to discourage police officers from taking money from drivers, clear guidelines will soon be given to distinguish the duties of the various police officers at barriers, police officers on highway patrol duties, and police officers from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD),” he stated.

Mr. Eklu said it was the resolve of the police administration not to shield any police officer who indulged in acts of unprofessionalism that were likely to bring the name of the police service into disrepute.
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By:Graphic.com/Ghana

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[contextly_sidebar id=”2Py2BdpPXE42eqmigwkTGIKvesjFKTEh”]He explains that the Ministry of Transport has not taken a definite decision on implementing the tow tax hence his apprehension. His comments follow an announced move by the Coalition to gather signatures to petition the President and subsequently embark on a demonstration to halt the implementation of the towing levy.

Mr. Ayepaye told Citi News such actions are unnecessary in the current circumstances.

“The Minister has come out to say that he has received our report. The Parliament Committee is not the only body that is consulting. He is waiting for other bodies to also come out with their recommendations for them to take a decision so I do not see the need for the demonstration.”

Tow levy a total rip-off?

The NRSC has been criticized for attempting to introduce a nationwide towing programme, to ensure that all vehicles that breakdown on highways are cleared off the roads.

Drivers would be required to pay a road safety fee ranging between GHC 10 and GHC 200 in addition to their road worthy certification fees if the tow tax is implemented.

But several pressure groups and civil society organizations have kicked against the policy, calling on government to scrap it immediately.

Despite these calls, the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament has recommended that government goes ahead with the implementation.

No decision taken yet on tow levy – Transport Ministry

Government has however indicated that it has not taken a decision on the implementation yet.

The Transport Ministry on Friday served notice that it is holding consultations with various stakeholders including the Parliamentary Select Committee on roads and transport on the way forward.

The Ministry in the statement further stated that the views of all stakeholders will be considered to enable it make an informed decision on the matter.

“Thereafter, the Ministry’s decision will be communicated to the general public,” the statement added.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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The ruling by a London employment tribunal means drivers for the ride-hailing app will be entitled to holiday pay, paid rest breaks and the national minimum wage.

The GMB union described the decision as a “monumental victory” for some 40,000 drivers in England and Wales.
Uber said it would appeal against the ruling that it had acted unlawfully.

The San Francisco-based company had argued that its drivers were not employees but self-employed contractors.

The ruling accused Uber of “resorting in its documentation to fictions, twisted language and even brand new terminology”, adding: “The notion that Uber in London is a mosaic of 30,000 small businesses linked by a common ‘platform’ is to our mind faintly ridiculous.”

“This is a monumental victory that will have a hugely positive impact on drivers,” said Maria Ludkin, legal director at the GMB, which brought the case.

Drivers and campaigners hail Uber ruling
The TUC said the case had exposed the “dark side” of the UK’s labour market.

General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “For many workers the gig economy is a rigged economy, where bosses can get out of paying the minimum wage and providing basics like paid holidays and rest breaks.

Jo Bertram, Uber’s UK manager, said: “Tens of thousands of people in London drive with Uber precisely because they want to be self-employed and their own boss.

“The overwhelming majority of drivers who use the Uber app want to keep the freedom and flexibility of being able to drive when and where they want. While the decision of this preliminary hearing only affects two people, we will be appealing it.”

Two drivers, James Farrar and Yaseen Aslam, argued that their actions were controlled by Uber, which meant they were employed by the firm – but that they did not have basic workers’ rights.

Mr Farrar said his net earnings in August 2015 after expenses were £5.03 an hour.

Mr Aslam no longer drives for Uber.

‘Ground-breaking’ decision
Nigel Mackay from law firm Leigh Day, which represented the two drivers, said: “This judgment acknowledges the central contribution that Uber’s drivers have made to Uber’s success by confirming that its drivers are not self-employed, but that they work for Uber as part of the company’s business.

“This is a ground-breaking decision. It will impact not just on the thousands of Uber drivers working in this country, but on all workers in the so-called gig economy whose employers wrongly classify them as self-employed and deny them the rights to which they are entitled.”

Martin Warren, partner and head of labour relations at Eversheds, said the ruling may not mean other cases brought by workers in the “on-demand economy” will have similar success.

“Each case will depend on the specific terms and arrangements between the individual and the company they work for. Nevertheless other firms who rely heavily on the ‘on-demand’ freelance workforce will be watching cases like this keenly,” he said.

Alex Bearman, partner at Russell-Cooke solicitors, said Uber could look to meet any additional costs by increasing the percentage of each fare that it kept as commission: “It seems likely that this decision will be appealed and we may not see a final determination for some time to come.”

A Department for Business spokesperson said: “We are keen to ensure our employment rules keep up to date to reflect new ways of working and that’s why the government has asked Matthew Taylor to conduct an independent review into modern working practices.”

Shadow business minister Jack Dromey told the BBC: “Uber are going to have to fundamentally rethink how they operate in this country.”

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Source: BBC

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Narrating the incident to Citi News, the acting Public Relations Officer of the Upper West Regional Police, ASP Edmund Namekye, said the suspect,  “Kojo Mensah, stole the car from Ibrahim Send Enterprise,  a small scale mining company based In  Asante Bedwas where he was engaged as a driver.”

Kojo Mensah absconded with the car to Techiman and offered it for sale at GHC10, 000.

According g to ASP Nyamekye, Police in Wa upon a tip off feigned interest in buying the car at GHC15, 000, and lured the suspect to Wa where he was arrested upon interrogation.

He said a signal was sent to other police stations across the country, and it came out that a complaint about the missing car had been lodged at the Asante Bekwai police station about the said missing car.

The suspect has since been handed over to the police in Asante Bekwai for further investigations.

By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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