The Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA) says media commentaries on a purported meeting with tricycle operators and the lifting of directives on tricycle/pragyia operations in Cape Coast are untrue and should be totally disregarded.
The assembly emphasizes that the directives issued by the Cape Coast Metropolitan Security Council on October 22, 2021, and as amended are still in force.
In October 2021, CCMA issued a statement banning unregistered tricycles and unlicensed riders from operating within the Cape Coast Metropolis. All tricycles were restricted from using the Accra-Takoradi Highway and their operations were to be between the hours of 6:00 am and 5:00 pm daily only.
Read: CCMA bans persons below 25 years from operating “Pragyia or Aboboyaa”
In a statement dated May 9, 2023, and signed by its management the assembly indicated it has not met with pragyia operators and has also not lifted the directives.
In an Interview with ATL FM NEWS, the Municipal Chief Executive for the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly (CCMA), Mr. Ernerst Arthur noted that Persons below the age of 22 years are banned from riding tricycles (pragyia/aboboyaa), unregistered tricycles and unlicensed riders are banned from operations, and all tricycles are banned from using the Accra-Takoradi highway, while, all tricycle operations should be between the hours of 5:30 pm and 7:00 pm.
He revealed that over the past years, tricycle (pragya/aboyaa) riders who refused to adhere to the rolled-out directives have been penalized through payment of fines and made to face court charges to serve as a deterrent for those who may refuse to adhere to the directives in future.
Over the years, Cape Coast has become the hub of tricycles popularly known as Pragya.
Their contribution in inner city transportation has been massive due to the cheaper fares it offers as compared to the Taxis which have been the main source of transportation in the metropolis in times past.
However, stakeholders were concerned with the alarming rates of accidents caused by these tricycles.
As such, directives were therefore put in place to reduce the number of tricycle accidents in the metropolis and the region at large.
Below is a copy of the press release by CCMA
Read more news here
Source: Comfort Sweety Hayford/ATLFMNEWS