The Hohoe Municipal General Assembly, has accepted and adopted a motion for the review of the prohibition of auto rickshaw popularly known as Pragya operations in the Municipality.
The commercial operation of Pragya in the Municipality was prohibited under a bylaw enacted by the Hohoe Municipal General Assembly on September 27, 2023, during its Session.
The Assembly has also approved strict regulatory guidelines for its operations in the Municipality such as no individual auto rickshaw shall be licensed to operate in isolation but under the umbrella of a recognized transport company, with each company assigned a unique identity.
It says all transport companies must formally register their entire fleet at the Assembly in the company’s name before deployment, while operators strictly stick to designated and approved routes and standard penalties must apply for tracking off route.
Every single rider is to be legally licensed by the DVLA, and both the rider and the vehicle must be registered with the Assembly’s transport department while the Assembly must be an active stakeholder in the pricing and fare-fixing process alongside the transport unions to prevent arbitrary fare hikes and protect the public.
Auto rickshaws are to be strictly prohibited from parking or loitering on designated high-traffic main highways, except at designated off-road terminals and in order to prevent congestion in the central business district and ensure smooth traffic flow, some routes have been prohibited for auto rickshaw operators not to ply.
Mr Prosper Kumi, the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said a maximum of 60 Pragyas had been approved initially and distributed among four registered companies.
He said the initial fare was pegged at GHS 3.00 until there would be renegotiations for increment, adding that in some instances, fares might be between GHS 3.00 and GHS 5.00.
Mr Kumi said the Assembly would continue to monitor and educate drivers to ensure full compliance.
Mr Anthony Elorm Afevieku, the Assembly Member for Torkoni/Trevi Electoral Area, in June this year, moved a motion to allow Pragyas also nicknamed “Mahama Can Do” to operate within the municipality.
He said the motion served as an amendment to the earlier bylaw passed by the Assembly, adding that he had proposed recommendations and regulatory guidelines as well as prohibited routes in the motion.
Mr Robert Atsu Okor, the Assembly Member of the Gbledi Electoral Area, seconded the motion.
GNA
