The taxi drivers association in Accra; the nation’s capital Wednesday staged a serious demonstration over what they term “unfair treatment” by government.
The drivers were unhappy that despite the reduction in the World Market price of fuel government continues to increase local fuel prices.
They complained that the taxi business is gradually collapsing in the country.
With their placards they chanted war songs as they walked the principal streets of Accra.
The peaceful demonstration, which was christened: “Obia ho kyere no,” to wit ‘everyone is affected’ started at the Obra Spot at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, at about 6:30 A.M.,
The demonstration saw massive patronage with the participation of thousands of Ghanaians who believe the current hikes in oil prices coupled with economic hardship have had debilitating effects on their lives and businesses.
Accompanied by some former ministers and Members of Parliament (MPs,) the demonstrators spent hours in the scorching sun sitting and wailing as well as kneeling on the heated asphalted roads at various stops enroute to Hearts Park where they were addressed by their leaders.
Clad in red attires, the angry demonstrators carried placards some of which read; “Mahama Empire is Collapsing’; Mahama and NDC Gov’t Want to Sell Ghana’; Mahama For Sale;’ 419 Gov’t;’ Boko Haram NDC Gov’t;’ Mahama Reduce Fuel Prices Now”.
The reason for such a decision, the drivers said, was as a result of the abundant corruption in the current national administration including the new fuel price increment and the retention of the old fares.
According to them, the new increases did not correspond with increases in transport fares.
That situation, they said, affected their daily incomes and also brought confrontations between them and passengers.
The cabbies will also protest the increase in Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) embossment fees, road worthy license among others,” he noted.
He intimated that the drivers were fighting for their rights and called on government to reduce the fuel prices “drastically.”
“We are fighting to ensure that drivers are treated fairly by government,” they stressed.
