Police order Accra taxi drivers to wear uniforms

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday November 29, 2007
From December 15, taxi drivers who don’t wear the AMA prescribed uniforms will not be allowed to operate, Assistant Commissioner of Police Daniel Avorga, in charge of motor Traffic Unit has said.

The police are determined to enforce the Accra Metropolitan Assembly’s directive to taxi drivers to wear the light blue shirt over dark trousers uniform. Mr. Avorga said yesterday at a meeting of stakeholders.

The drivers strongly opposed the idea when it was initiated a year ago, citing various reasons including their inability to afford the cost.

The meeting attended by Mr. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson, the Accra Metropolitan Chief Executive and representatives of commercial transport operators was convened by the AMA to announce the enforcement of the embossment of all taxis with identifications and the wearing of uniforms by taxi drivers.

Mr. Avorga said, “this idea is a good one. It is not the first time we are introducing this. All taxi drivers should comply into the Assembly’s directive by December 15.

“When drivers are in uniform it enhances cohesion, discipline, quick identification and makes their control very easy.”

“We do not want to be seen to be driving drivers to court over this issue. Just comply with the directive.” he said.

Mr. Avorga said that the MTU is in a position to direct and control traffic before, during and after the Ghana 2008 tournament.

On his part, Mr. Adjiri Blankson said the assembly has the power to ensure total discipline in the city through the enforcement of its by-laws.

“We are not against drivers. We only want to ensure that the profession gains respectability.”

He said the AMA has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) to enforce the wearing of uniforms.

On identification for taxis Mr. Adjiri Blankson said since the exercise started in January, a total of 17,632 taxis have been registered and embossed with serial numbers.

“With the introduction of this programme the incidence of taxis involved in robbery has reduced drastically. We have to introduce interventions to sanitise the city”, he stated.

Mr. Matthew Hayford, Acting General Secretary of GRTCC said “our members are now seeing the need to wear a uniform and register their taxis.”

His suggestion that the drivers be allowed to put on ‘African wear’ on Fridays and weekends was accepted by the Chief Executive.

Discussions over the introduction of the uniforms began last year between the AMA and the GRTCC.

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the two bodies, which assigned the GRTCC the responsibility of educating the drivers about the need to wear the uniform, while the AMA focused on the embossment of vehicles which began on February 5 this year.

Ali Baba Bature, Public Relations Officer of the AMA, explained to the Times that the AMA was compelled to take up the issue of the uniforms when it was realised that the GRTCC’s effort was not having the desired impact.

He added that any taxi driver who fails to comply with the directive will pay a fine
GH C200 or a six month prison sentence.