Taxi drivers in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, Sunyani, on Wednesday, May 13, 2007, embarked on a five-hour strike action to protest the refusal of their executives to increase fares following the recent increment in fuel prices.

The strike which started as early as 5am, ended at 10am but only after commuters had had a tough time getting to work.

The Drivers were seen with red bands on their heads and wrists to demonstrate their grievances to the public.

According to the members of the Taxi Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), the decision was taken on Tuesday, May 12, this year, urging all taxi drivers not to work the following day.

A few drivers who failed to comply with the decision were harassed by their colleagues, when they spotted passengers in their cars, but the Police were there as usual to maintain peace and security.

A few recalcitrant drivers were taken to the Sunyani Municipal Police Station for interfering with the work of the Police. The issue was later resolved.

The executive of the Taxi branch of GPRTU complained that, something ought to be done to the fares and upon that, they met with the Sunyani Municipal Chief Executive, Kwame Twumasi Awuah last week Thursday.

According to the executives, the MCE asked them to wait till an official letter was received from their national headquarters in Accra, before the drivers could increase fares.

The Chairman of the Sunyani branch of the Taxi Union of GPRTU, Nana Bissi Emmanuel, said the increment should have been done earlier if the Union had received the statement released from the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) at its emergency meeting held on May 30, this year.

He said the emergency meeting of the GRTCC was used to deliberate on the current upward adjustment of fuel prices based on a critical look at the price adjustment of fuel with respect to petrol.

The GRTCC at their emergency meeting, came out with some fares and called on taxicab operators and other groups of transporters not to increase transport fares beyond what was approved by the council.

Nana Emmanuel said the letter dated June 1, 2007, which was signed by an executive member of GRTCC, Stephen K. Okudzeto and 1st Vice President of the GRTCC, Nana Danso Atekoasa Agyemang, was delayed.

He cited lack of communication as the cause of the strike action embarked on by the Sunyani taxi drivers, which was unfortunate for the Municipality because it affected the business activities of the Bosoma market, which has Wednesday as market day.

However, Nana Bissi appealed to the drivers to resume work to allow the executives to work on the situation with the Sunyani Municipal Assembly for reasonable fares to be agreed and approved.

According to the Chairman, they received the letter of the GRTCC meeting on Tuesday night and are presenting it to the MCE during their meeting so that they can comply with the directives inscribed in the letter.

He stressed that, the statement from the GRTCC said that the fares approved for taxi cab operators on April 3, this year have been taken care of and should be maintained. However the drivers in Sunyani maintained their existing fares, since they did not have a copy of the April 3 directives.

The taxi drivers are asking to be allowed to use the April 3 approved fares this time.

Source: The Chronicle