Commercial drivers in Tamale embark on demo over ‘Mahama cambuu’

Commercial taxi drivers in Tamale on Tuesday morning embarked on a demonstration to protest the use of three-wheeled cabs – also known as yellow yellow – for commercial purposes.

The drivers, clad in red arm bands and headgears drummed and chanted war songs while they paraded the streets of the northern regional capital.

Workers, students and traders among others were left stranded as the drivers from 11 stations under the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) took to the streets.

The drivers attacked their colleagues who had refused to join in the protest.

The few three-wheeled drivers, also known as ‘Mahama cambuu’, who were bumped into by the protestors were not spared.

But for the timely intervention of the police, a three-wheeled cab driver would have been lynched.

In an interview with Joy News corrspondent Martina Bugri, spokesperson for the aggrieved drivers, McCarthy Frimpong said the use of the three-wheeled cabs is in contravention of the law.

“Section 128 of LI 21 (80), under the Motor Traffic Regulation 2012 states vividly that the tricycle machine should not be used as passenger transport but they are using it and no one is questioning them. This means the structures are not working,” Mr Frimpong noted.

He indicated that the use of under age children to operate these cabs is even unacceptable.

They also complained that the cab drivers are not made to pay for insurance and other road user fees the regular drivers are charged.

“They don’t have any paper covering them, no insurance, no white paper, no DVLA permit…nothing and yet they are operating”, he lamented.

“We are in competition with them so we should all be treated equally, why should they favour  some people over others? They are working and we are facing it. We pay all the fees but we are not getting passengers, which is not a fair treatment”, he told Martina.

The group presented a petition to the police and the Regional Minister.

They have however threatened to proceed to court if nothing is done to address their concerns.

Mr Frimpong added that if push comes to shove, they will take the law into their own hands and also stop paying taxes.