The Koforidua branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced plans to introduce 24-hour operations at all major lorry stations in the municipality as part of efforts to eliminate the activities of so-called “floating drivers.”
The Welfare Chairman of the union, Alhaji Muniru Alhassan Muniru, said the move is aimed at compelling unregistered drivers and vehicles operating outside recognised unions to either join existing transport unions or form structured associations that can be properly monitored and regulated.
According to him, the growing presence of floating drivers has contributed significantly to indiscipline and road traffic accidents, as many of them operate without adhering to established safety rules and union regulations.
“The 24-hour operation of lorry stations will help bring order, improve road safety, and formalise the transport sector, especially at a time when many drivers operate outside union control,” he stated.
Alhaji Muniru stressed that road safety is a shared responsibility, involving drivers, vehicle owners, and passengers. However, he noted that drivers bear the primary responsibility for ensuring that vehicles are operated safely and responsibly.
He further blamed floating drivers for the recent rise in road accidents in the area, explaining that in their rush to pick up passengers, they often engage in speeding, wrongful overtaking, and other dangerous driving practices that lead to accidents and loss of lives.
He therefore advised passengers to patronise vehicles that load from designated lorry stations, warning that drivers who operate outside these stations do not belong to any recognised transport unions and are not bound by union rules or safety standards.
The GPRTU believes the new measure will strengthen regulation within the transport sector and enhance safety on roads within Koforidua and its surrounding communities.
Story: Nyamebeye Kofi Ansah Sasraku