Transport minister fumes over drivers’ strike

daniel russell

June 2, 2015 7:45 AM

The Ghana Committed Drivers Association claims the activities of the Driver and Vehicular Licensing Authority (DVLA) is frustrating their business, hence their decision to protest.

The Minister of Transport, Dzifa Atsivor has condemned commercial drivers protest against the new licensing policy by the Driver and Vehicular Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Last year, the DVLA served a notice that it would no longer register commercial vehicles with no seat belts for passengers. The acting Chief Executive, Rudolph Beckley explained that the new directive is in conformity with Section 119 of the Road Traffic Regulation Legislative Instrument (LI) 2180 which will help achieve a 50 percent reduction in deaths and serious injuries associated with vehicular accidents by 2020.

But chairman of the association, Charles Mensah has said that DVLA’s decision not to register commercial vehicles with no seat belts for passengers is unacceptable.

On Monday, June 1, some commercial bus drivers left thousands of passengers stranded and blocked roads to press home their demands. The situation caused massive vehicular trafficwhile hundreds had to make their journey on foot. But transport minister has said the drivers had no right to do so.

“In the first place, they didn’t even send their petition to us for us to even say we cannot do anything about it or we reject their proposal. You just get up one morning and cause a lot of disaffection to the traveling public. It is not right,” she complained on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News.

“If they have their concerns, they should write to us at the Ministry, we will sit down and see how best we can meet them halfway but I am not happy they decided to take the law into their own hands,” she insisted.

Dzifa Attivor on Eyewitness News condemned their actions and apologized to all passengers who were affected.

She apologised to all passengers who were affected and noted that her outfit, together with the DVLA is however willing to sit and negotiate with the drivers.

“If they can contact me, I will be available because through discussions, we can find out how well we can help them. We will see how we can meet them halfway”, she said.

daniel russell