General News of Monday, 24 December 2007

Source: GNA

Drivers complain about police harassment

Accra, Dec. 24, GNA - Mr. Seth Sallah, the station manager for Accra-Ho branch of the co-operative drivers union has complained about the number of police officers on the Accra-Ho road this festive season. "The number of police barricades on the highway is too many and they always demand money from us whether one has all his vehicle particulars right or not," Mr. Sallah stated.

He made the allegation when the GNA visited the Ghana co-operative drivers union's Tudu branch.

Mr. Sallah expressed happiness that there were a lot of buses on the road unlike last year when it was difficult for passengers to get transportation to their destinations. "This year a lot of people are not travelling and I think it is due to the economic situation in the country, but I hope the situation would improve as the year draws to an end", he added. He commended the conduct of the union's drivers since so far his office had not recorded any casualties. "We have educated our drivers a lot and warned them not to drink and drive since anyone caught smelling of alcohol would be sanctioned and asked to go home," he stated.

Some of the passengers who spoke to GNA said despite the hard economic difficulties facing them, they still find reason to be grateful to God for bringing them this far and there is no better way to say thank you to God than going to your village and celebrating the yuletide with one's family.