General News of Monday, 1 May 2000

Source: GNA

Travellers complain about overloading

Nkawkaw, May 1, GNA- Travellers within some areas of Kwahu have complained to the Eastern Regional Police about overloading by taxi drivers.

They claimed that some of the taxi drivers carry seven or more passengers in their vehicles instead of the five approved by law. A complainant, Mr Kwaku Asiedu, a Koforidua businessman, who was a victim at the weekend, said when travelling from Nkawkaw to Kwahu-Praso, the taxi driver carried eight passengers in his car.

When the passengers protested the driver replied, "I used my personal money to buy the vehicle and nobody can dictate to me the number of passengers I should take".

Despite the protest, the driver stuck to his decision and drove them to Kwahu-Praso. According to Mr Asiedu, a similar overloading occurred when he was returning to Koforidua on Sunday.

He said on reaching Nkawkaw, he reported to the officials of the GPRTU, who said they were aware of the practice and have advised against it but the drivers decided to ignore them.

Mr Asiedu said that a report has been made to Chief Inspector Jonathan Kwame Abban, Eastern Regional Public Relations Officer, who promised to take action