TMA Bust Commercial Drivers Functioning Without Commercial Licenses

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has embarked on an exercise to sanction commercial drivers operating in the Metropolis without a commercial driver’s license.

Metro guards of the Assembly on Wednesday, stopped and checked the commercial license of taxi and trotro drivers on the principal streets in the harbour city and arrested those operating without it.

Mr John Mireku, Deputy Chief Metro Guard of the TMA, told the Ghana News Agency that seven drivers were arrested as at 0900 hours.

Mr. Mireku said those arrested were required to pay a fine of 200 Ghana cedi’s and purchase commercial license before being discharged by the metro guards.

He stated that the Assembly was empowered by the local government laws to arrest drivers who drove without a commercial driver’s license issued by the various District, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies.

He added that, the objective behind the issuance of commercial license was to generate revenue for the assemblies while identifying commercial drivers operating in the locality.

He said the TMA had to enforce the law as most of the drivers refused to acquire the license as they claimed it was unnecessary and resource draining.

He disclosed that those who had it also refused to pay penalties and pick them up when the metro guards collected it from them for wrongful parking and loading at unauthorized places.

According to him, more than 20 of such licenses had been abandoned at the metro guard office.

Mr. Mireku urged all commercial drivers operating in the Metropolis to acquire a commercial driver’s license in addition to their professional license as the TMA would not stop arresting and charging defaulting drivers.

Mr. Alex Nyamekye, a commercial driver, who was arrested during the operation, appealed to the TMA to sensitize drivers on the importance of acquiring a commercial driver’s license to enable them understand and appreciate it.

Source: GNA