Police must check exploitation by drivers- Commuters

February 06, 2010

Accra, Feb. 6, GNA - A number of commuters, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Saturday, on the recent increase in road tolls and its accompanying confusion between drivers and passengers, have appealed to the President to intervene.

Most of them wanted President Mills to empower the police to arrest recalcitrant drivers who are charging exorbitant fares as a result of the increased tolls.

Madam Denu Kafui, a trader in Accra said, there was the need for plain cloth policemen to join commercial vehicles and arrest drivers, who have taken advantage of the increase in road and bridge tolls.

Opanyin Kweku Mensah, unemployed, said some drivers plying the routes start their journeys beyond the toll booths, thus avoiding paying the toll fee, but yet charge extra fares, whist others disembark their passengers before getting to the toll booths.

James Paning, also a trader said, drivers should refrain from "such illegal acts because it creates a lot suffering for the masses, who are charged exorbitant fares.

He gave an example of a journey which costs eight Ghana Pesewas now attracts a fare of nine Ghana Pesewas, and if the amount is multiplied by the 28 passengers on board, then the drivers make exorbitant profits, which is unfair.

GNA