The Federation of Ghana Traders has called on the government to rein in commercial drivers who are allegedly taking the law into their own hands by removing traders and hawkers from bus stops amid the implementation of the Traffitech system.
The Federation said the successful implementation of Traffitech required cooperation, discipline and commitment from all stakeholders, warning that unilateral actions by commercial drivers could disrupt trading activities and the movement of goods and services.
In a press statement signed by its Founder, Takyi Addo, the Federation urged the government to engage commercial drivers and their leadership to address concerns surrounding the system and ensure that its implementation proceeded in an orderly manner.
It maintained that although traders and hawkers had no right to occupy unauthorised spaces at bus stops, commercial drivers equally had no authority to forcibly remove them.
The Federation argued that the responsibility for enforcing regulations on the use of public spaces rested with the relevant local government authorities, rather than commercial drivers taking enforcement into their own hands.
It, therefore, called on the government to ensure that all parties acted within the law and that any measures to restore order at bus stops were undertaken through the appropriate authorities.
The statement stressed that technological interventions such as Traffitech could contribute to improved transport management and enforcement but required effective stakeholder engagement, public education and clear implementation guidelines to achieve their intended objectives.
It further called for stronger communication and coordination among government agencies, transport operators and the trading community to prevent avoidable confrontations and disruptions to businesses.
According to the Federation, the introduction of the system should not unnecessarily undermine commercial activities or create difficulties for traders, consumers and other businesses that depend on the smooth movement of goods and services.
It appealed to the government to urgently resolve concerns surrounding the implementation of Traffitech while ensuring that transport operators, traders and other stakeholders complied with the law.
The Federation reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the government and relevant stakeholders to protect traders’ interests and promote a stable business environment.
It said a coordinated approach, grounded in lawful enforcement and mutual respect, was necessary to ensure that the implementation of Traffitech achieved its objectives without creating unnecessary tension between commercial drivers and traders.
By: Christian Kpesese
