Emmanuel Agyemfra Boateng
I arrived in Nadowli early this year and latter Jirapa,asked of Taxis and I was laughed at!I was aked to join a Tricycle with about 8 people in the small bucket,which was bound for Jirapa and I didn’t believe it at first sight.
“Nyamar Lorry” or Motor Kings is the Road Master up here in Jirapa,Nadowli,Lawra,Lambusi eand other surrounding towns and villages
The Tricycle with a bucket at the back carries not less than ten people when there’s a funeral or it’s a market day.My stay in Jirapa and Nadowli have really showed me how our country men here in Northern Ghana are suffering to do their day to day activities because of poor or inadequate transportational means.
If you are without a Bicycle,Motorcycle or Tricycle then your journeys within the District will be very difficult and hectic,considering the long distances from the hinterlands to the District Capitals.The fact that there are no Taxis around to do the inter city runnings doesn’t also mean Authorities in Jirapa,Nadowli,Lawra and other surrounding Districts should be looking unconcerned whiles owners of these Motor Kings put precious lives into danger thus loading more than ten passengers into this small bucket of the Motor King just because it is the only source of transportation linking the villages to the towns.
Yes,it’s the ROAD MASTER in our part of the Counrty and we are proud but not too proud of the way they operate and the casualties we record when an accident occurs!8 out of every 10 motor riders here in Jirapa and its surroundings have motor accidents and there are scars on either their faces or arms to attest to that! Wearing of helmets isn’t part of the safety rules here!!
I pity some of the old women and kids who have to walk long distances to school,market and other social functions because they can’t afford 4.00 for Motor Kings or use a Bike.
I humbly appeal to the Regional and District branches of the GPRTU in the Wa and Jirapa respectively to introduce Taxis to ease the the transportational stress in the districts.The MTTU department of the Ghana Police Servic in Jirapa should intensify their regular vehicular and motor checks,especially on wearing of Crash Helmets.
Always remember,whenever you are in the Upper West Region and you go far from from Wa,please try and have a safe ride in our Ferrari or “Nyamar Lorry” or better still the ROAD MASTER…and don’t forget your helmet and don’t join an overloaded one.
NORTHERN GHANA….y3 w) adze oye
The writer is a Freelance Journalist and you can contact him on 0249542342/0508609109 or emmanuelagyenfra@yahoo.com