Hon. Ebenezer Cobbinah
Municipal Chief Executive
Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly
RE: THE CONTINUED BAN ON THE COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF TRICYCLES (PRAGYA) WITHIN THE TARKWA-NSUAEM MUNICIPALITY
Dear Hon. Municipal Chief Executive,
I write respectfully as a concerned son and citizen of the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality regarding recent calls for the lifting of the ban on the commercial operation of tricycles, popularly referred to as “Pragya,” within the Municipality.
I respectfully acknowledge and appreciate the genuine concerns expressed by commuters and residents over the recent increases in transportation fares. The economic burden placed on ordinary residents, workers, students and traders is a matter that deserves the urgent attention of the Municipal Assembly.
However, the current transportation challenges should not lead us to adopt a measure that may create more serious and potentially irreversible road-safety and traffic-management problems.
My position is therefore respectfully but firmly stated below:
*The ban on the commercial operation of Pragya should be maintained and comprehensively enforced throughout the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality.**
*Road Safety and Traffic Discipline**
The concerns surrounding commercial tricycle operations extend beyond the affordability of fares.
In several parts of the country where commercial tricycles have become prevalent, concerns have been raised regarding traffic indiscipline, unauthorised stopping and loading, dangerous overtaking, disregard for traffic regulations, overloading and other unsafe practices by some operators.
Such conduct, where it occurs, presents risks not only to passengers but also to pedestrians, motorists and other road users.
The Municipality should therefore be guided principally by the need to preserve life and ensure orderly movement on its roads. It would be imprudent to introduce an additional category of commercial transport without first being satisfied that the necessary road infrastructure, regulatory framework and enforcement capacity exist to manage it effectively.
*The Particular Circumstances of Tarkwa**
Tarkwa presents unique traffic and transportation challenges.
Several of its inner roads are relatively narrow and are already shared by taxis, private vehicles, heavy-duty vehicles, commercial operators, pedestrians and other road users. The introduction of a substantial number of commercial tricycles could place additional pressure on this already constrained road network.
Of particular concern would be roadside passenger loading, indiscriminate stopping, parking, congestion around commercial centres and increased competition for limited road space.
The question before the Assembly should therefore not merely be whether Pragya can provide cheaper transportation, but whether its introduction is **compatible with the long-term traffic-management and road-safety objectives of the Municipality.**
*The Proposal to Permit Operations in Outlying Communities**
I respectfully wish to express my concern regarding the suggestion that Pragya may be permitted to operate in smaller communities outside Greater or Central Tarkwa while remaining prohibited within the central areas.
With respect, such an arrangement may prove difficult to enforce effectively.
The communities within Tarkwa-Nsuaem are economically and socially interconnected. Operators permitted to operate in neighbouring communities will naturally respond to passenger demand, and the greatest demand is likely to be generated by Tarkwa’s principal commercial and administrative centres.
This creates a substantial possibility of operators from surrounding communities or neighbouring Municipalities entering Tarkwa for commercial purposes.
Accordingly, if the Assembly’s position is that Pragya is unsuitable for Central Tarkwa because of traffic, road-safety or infrastructure considerations, those same considerations should inform the policy throughout the Municipality.
*There should be no indirect or gradual reintroduction of Pragya into Tarkwa through neighbouring communities.**
The Assembly should therefore engage with adjoining Municipal and District Assemblies, the Ghana Police Service, the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) and other relevant institutions to ensure that operators from outside the Municipality do not use Tarkwa as a commercial passenger-transport destination.
*The Need for a Clear and Enforceable Policy**
A partial geographical restriction could create considerable enforcement difficulties.
Officers would have to determine where a particular tricycle originated, where it is licensed, whether it is operating commercially, where passengers were picked up and whether it has entered a prohibited area.
A clear and uniform policy would be considerably easier to communicate and enforce:
> **Commercial Pragya operations should not be permitted anywhere within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality, irrespective of the operator’s place of origin of registration.**
This would eliminate ambiguity and reduce the possibility of the policy being undermined through loopholes.
Spare Parts and Supporting Commercial Activities
If the Assembly ultimately adopts and maintains a comprehensive prohibition on commercial Pragya operations, consideration may also be given to regulating commercial activities that are specifically established to facilitate such prohibited operations.
This could include the importation, assembly, modification or commercial distribution of specialised tricycle components for the purpose of establishing or expanding prohibited passenger-transport operations.
However, any such regulation should be carefully framed and implemented strictly in accordance with applicable national legislation. Legitimate businesses engaged in the lawful sale of general automobile or motorcycle spare parts should not be subjected to arbitrary restrictions merely because some of their products may also be compatible with tricycles.
The objective should be effective regulation and enforcement, not an unnecessary restriction on legitimate commerce.
Addressing the Transportation-Fare Challenge
Admittedly, the present increase in transportation fares requires urgent attention.
Nevertheless, the solution should be sought through measures that improve the efficiency, affordability and reliability of the existing transportation system.
The Assembly could, among other measures:
* Engage transport operators and their representative bodies on fare increases;
* Strengthen monitoring and enforcement against arbitrary fares;
* Improve road conditions and traffic management;
* Examine opportunities for more efficient public transportation arrangements; and
* Engage major institutions and employers regarding structured transportation support for workers and other commuters.
These interventions would address the underlying transportation concerns without compromising the Municipality’s road-safety objectives.
My Respectful Appeal
Hon. MCE, i respectfully submit that leadership requires not only responsiveness to immediate public concerns but also the foresight to anticipate the long-term consequences of policy decisions.
The decision taken during the tenure of the former MCE, Hon. K.D. Asmah, to consult MUSEC and maintain the restriction on Pragya operations was, in the view of many residents, a prudent precautionary measure given the road infrastructure and transportation circumstances prevailing in Tarkwa.
That decision deserves careful consideration before any attempt is made to reverse or substantially dilute it.
I therefore respectfully appeal to you and the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal Assembly to:
1. Maintain the existing ban on commercial Pragya operations throughout the Municipality;
2. Reject any arrangement that permits Pragya operations in outlying communities as a potential gateway into Central Tarkwa; 3. Coordinate with neighbouring MMDAs and relevant national agencies to prevent commercial Pragya operators from using Tarkwa as a passenger-transport destination;
4. *Strengthen enforcement of existing road-traffic regulations;
5. **Address the rising cost of transportation through sustainable alternatives rather than the introduction of Pragya; and
6. **Undertake a comprehensive traffic and road-safety assessment before any future reconsideration of the existing policy.
Hon. MCE, the residents of Tarkwa-Nsuaem deserve transportation that is not only affordable but also *safe, orderly and sustainable*.
We should therefore resist the temptation to address an immediate economic difficulty with a policy that could introduce longer-term challenges in road safety, traffic management and public order.
A reduction in transportation fares is desirable, but it must not be achieved at the expense of public safety.
Respectfully i urge you to exercise the necessary leadership and foresight to maintain the prohibition and ensure that the people of Tarkwa-Nsuaem are protected from the potential adverse consequences of uncontrolled commercial tricycle operations.
Tarkwa needs a safer, more efficient and sustainable transportation system not the introduction of Pragya.
I am of a firm believe trust that this appeal will receive your earnest consideration in the interest of public safety and the long-term development of the Municipality.
Yours faithfully,
Mr. Kojo Matasa Blay, Msc (MEcon)
The Writer is a
● Senior Investigative Journalist
● An Economist & Policy & Trade Analyst
● A son & Indegene of Wassa Fiase
