The only thought that came to mind when I heard that tricycle riders were going to be banned was a concern about how I was going to dispose of my waste.

"Who will come home and knock at the doors of tenants and ask if there were any rubbish to dispose of?" I asked myself.

Everything is important. What you may not value is very valuable to others. The introduction of tricycles in our country has been a blessing for most citizens and I can confidently attest to that. It has served as a source of employment for most youth in the country. Both males and females use the tricycle for various business purposes, including selling bags of sachet water.

Farmers also use it to carry their farm products and many more. The tricycle to me has more uses than the motorbike and these mini vehicles that have been introduced to replace them. Well, if authorities have found fault with their operations in the system, what can be done is to help them know their faults, instead of completely throwing out their operations.

This makes me reflect on a publication by the Ghanaian Times on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, that the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has organised a one-day training workshop for riders and owners of tricycles at Mpohor in the Western Region.

I believe this is the best solution as to how these tricycle riders can be accommodated in the country. I am very glad experts like the Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (RMTTD), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), National Insurance Commission (NIC), and the Mpohor District Assembly partnered together to embark on this educative program.

Another question that came to mind was why 300 participants attended this educative session. This means that most of the people within the district are willing to cooperate and learn the right ways to operate, besides the fact that their lives depend on this tricycle business.

We also need to educate them on how to use our roads since we believe they play a role in the huge traffic we witness rather than banning their operations.

In the Greater Accra Region, we often see these tricycle operators using it for business purposes. They must not be treated like refugees in another country. That is their source of income. We may not recognize the services of these tricycle riders now but a time will come that we will be in dire need of them.

There is a high possibility that our gutters will be the best option and easiest place to dump rubbish for many who can't register with the appropriate waste management agencies due to cost and the fact that services of the tricycle operators are relatively cheaper than that of the waste management agencies.

We need their services and they are always with us.

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The author, Grace Tsotsoo Quaye is a graduate of the Ghana Institute of Journalism