The Upper East Regional Director of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority(DVLA), Mutawakilu Abdulai says it is unlawful for any “Mahama Can Do” rider to load more than two passengers.
“The Yellow tricycles are meant to take three people including the Rider, but over a period, the “Mahama Can Do” riders and the public have mistaken this three persons, to mean three passengers. They are to take two passengers and not three.” Mr. Abdulai stressed.
According to him, the Yellow tricycles are legally not meant for commercial operation, but have been allowed to operate across the Upper East Region, because, their existence and commercial operation has become useful to the public and so have been allowed.
In the Bolgatanga Municipality, some “Mahama Can Do” riders out of greed and disrespect for law have resorted to over loading, to make more money into their private pockets and expose passengers to danger.
They load from two passengers to five passengers in the three wheeled vehicle and dangerously ride through the bad roads of the Bolgatanga Municipality.
Unfortunately, many passengers do not complain and rather condone the over loading by these self seeking “Mahama Can Do” riders.
There are also public concerns over minors riding these Yellow tricycles and being careless on the road, thereby putting themselves and their passengers, as well as other road users in danger.
Mutawakilu Abdulai also noted that, all occupants of the Yellow tricycles are supposed to wear helmet, so as to protect their heads from crushing, in the event of any accident.
He said: “… the machines are good machines, but it is just a canopy that is covering them and in the even of an accident, passengers can hit their heads on the ground. These are not like cars, these machines, when there is a problem the canopy cannot protect you from falling. There are no seat belts, that is why the passengers are to wear helmet as well as the rider.”
Per their Road Worthy Certificates and the number plate, they are supposed to be use as private means of transport, however, in its quest to create jobs, the National Democratic Congress under President John Mahama, through MASLOC gave out the Yellow tricycles to people, to work and pay for the cost and then own them, as a source of income.
Source: a1radioonline.com / 101.1MHz / Ghana
