Accra, March 1, GNA - Taxi cab owners and drivers who operate in Accra have sued the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) at the High Court praying the court to stop the implementation of an order asking taxi drivers to put on uniforms and for taxi cabs to be embossed with numbers.

In a motion on notice for interim injunction, the lawyer of the plaintiffs Mr K.A. Bompreh is praying the court for an order restraining the AMA, its assigns, agents and representatives from enforcing or implementing the order pending the final determination of the suit. The suit was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by Mr Ebenezer Obeng Asante and Mr Albert Ahwireng for taxi cab owners, taxi drivers of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) in Accra, except the National Executive Council of the Union.

A statement of claim is seeking a declaration that the AMA is not vested with the power to prescribe a specific dress code for taxi drivers operating in the city.

It is also seeking a declaration that the defendant 93acted in excess of its power" when it instructed the plaintiffs/taxi cab owners to emboss the front doors of cabs with numbers.

The statement of claim is further seeking a declaration that AMA's instructions to plaintiffs violate Chapter 5 of the Constitution "in that the instructions require compliance thereof by the plaintiffs operating only in certain areas in Accra".

The AMA last year ordered taxi drivers in Accra to wear dark blue pair of trousers and light blue shirt. All taxi owners are to emboss the front doors of their cars with numbers at Sikkens Group of Companies at a cost of 250,000 cedis in addition to a subsidy of 200,000 cedis per vehicle.

The writ said plaintiffs were each private individuals engaged in private entrepreneurship and that none of them held private office. "It is the further averment of the plaintiffs that the defendant lacks the power to prescribe or instruct them to wear the uniform or so emboss their respective vehicles only at the place of business of Sikkens Group of Companies, Accra."

The plaintiffs said the National Executive Council of the GPRTU acted without the authority of the general body of the Union when it agreed with the defendant to comply with the instructions.

"Plaintiffs say there already exists a dress policy within the Union of the plaintiffs, aimed at making then look decent and appear attractive to the public.

"The plaintiffs say further that nothing in the bye-laws of the defendant positively or specifically empowers it to prescribe a dress code or require embossment."

The statement of claim said the requirement for compliance with the instructions by plaintiffs who operated in only certain areas in Accra was discriminatory against them.