Tricycle Restriction: Transport Ministry has Failed Ghana – Road Safety Consultant

In the ongoing debate surrounding the restriction of tricycle (pragya) operations within the Central Business District (CBD) of Kumasi, Transport and Road Safety Consultant Mr. Michael Owusu has strongly criticized the Transport Ministry for what he calls its failure in Ghana’s transport management.

“The Transport Ministry has let down Ghana. The laws of the land are clear that tricycles are not meant for commercial purposes,” lamented Mr. Owusu during an interview on Opemsuo Radio’s Nkwantannanso with George Adjei on August 8.

He explained that tricycles, in their fundamental nature, are not designed for commercial activities; instead, they are intended for recreational, private use, enclave usage, and business branding purposes.

“We have misused pragya in Ghana. The Transport Ministry has let us down. It should not have been allowed for commercial purposes.”

He emphasized that many tricycle drivers lack basic road safety knowledge and sound judgement, making it difficult to regulate their activities.

While acknowledging that pragya operations are now prevalent in Ghana, Mr. Owusu suggested regulating them with measures such as setting a minimum age requirement for riders and imposing distance limits for their operations.

He further proposed a solution to traffic congestion by urging the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to consider banning private cars within the Central Business District while allowing only tricycles to operate. He advocated for the establishment of parking spaces near the CBD for tricycle riders.

The KMA announced the ban on tricycle movement within the Central Business District on August 1, 2023. The assembly believes that this restriction will help alleviate congestion caused by the riders and reduce accidents, some of which have resulted in fatalities.

Story by Adwoa S. Danso