Lapaz Drivers In Day Light Robbery!

Even though, the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTC) and Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU), has promulgated the appropriate transport fares from Abeka �Lapaz to the Business Districts of Accra (CBDs) at One Cedis and ten Pesewas (1.10p), commercial drivers have resorted to charging unapproved fare of one Cedis and forty Pesewas (1.40p). Commercial transport operators, known in local parlance as �Trotro� are charging unapproved fares in the rush hours of the morning and rush hours of the evening. But, charges the approved fares when there are not enough passengers on the route in the wee hours of the morning and late afternoon. The mainly Mini- van drivers, who ply the Kwame Nkrumah circle area, charge different fares aside the stipulated fares by GRTC and GPRTU. The drivers interestingly, charge eighty Pesewas (80p) from Abeka-Lapaz to Kwame Nkrumah circle, the mobile phone hub of the country and continue from there charging sixty Pesewas (60p) to Accra. The Herald scouts say the drivers are in collusion with some of the station managers to engage in this illicit act only for the driver�s mate to give them their cuts of fifty Pesewas (50p) on each load at the Circle- Accra terminal at Lapaz. The Herald has learnt that this has led to the breakdown of discipline among commercial drivers plying the Lapaz road that adjoins the Peace Fm junction on the Accra, Achimota- Nsawam road by parking haphazardly to load passengers, hence the heavy traffic on that stretch of road. These activities occurs daily resulting in some heated exchanges between passengers and driver�s. In a related development, filth is gradually taking over the arguably the most reliable lorry terminal in the Accra metropolis of the Greater Accra Region. The Herald�s Visit to the Abeka-Lapaz �Madina Lorry Terminal in the Okakoi Central Constituency, has revealed that filth is gradually taking over the lorry terminal operated by commercial drivers, plying almost all parts of the metropolis and outside the Region. The Herald�s observation at the untarred lorry terminal that runs transport services to various destinations in the municipality had heaps of garbage scattered all over around it. The garbage which has not been attended to for some time now are beginning to emit foul stench causing discomfort to commuters and residents in the area. It is unclear who is responsible for the collection of the garbage in the area, as the terminal which is just opposite N1 George Walker Bush Highway is about some two hundred metres away from the Okaikoi Sub-Metro of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).