A statewide strike has been scheduled by commercial transport operators throughout Ghana for Monday, May 19, 2025, in protest of the government’s non-enforcement of important aspects of the Road Traffic Regulations Act, 2012 (LI 2180), specifically the ban on trading on highways and at bus stops.
The main source of their complaints is Sub-regulation 117, which expressly forbids selling or displaying goods on sidewalks, highways, crossroads, and close to toll booths or traffic signs.
Transport unions claim that authorities have continuously failed to execute the law, even though it is clear.
Samuel Amoah, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union’s (GPRTU) deputy public relations officer, stated during a news conference on Tuesday, May 13, that the absence of enforcement has led to increasing safety hazards and extreme traffic jams.
“Our members are operating under increasingly dangerous conditions,”
“Passengers are at risk, drivers are frustrated, and yet the law is being ignored. We’re calling for immediate enforcement.” Amoah said.
A coalition of significant transportation organizations, including the True Drivers Union, the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, and the GPRTU, is spearheading the demonstration.
The unions maintain that their demands for justice and the rule of law do not conflict with those of traders.
“We urge the Ghana Police Service and the government to crack down on traders who disregard traffic regulations. Drivers are held to high standards and compliance—traders must be too,” Amoah emphasized.
The unions have sent out a strong warning: all member drivers will leave their jobs in a coordinated nationwide strike unless significant action is taken by May 19.
“If nothing changes, we will park our vehicles in protest. This is about safety, discipline, and respect for the law,” Amoah stated.
In the event that the strike goes as planned, commuters are urged to brace themselves for potential inconveniences next week as emotions escalate.
Source: newsthemegh.com