Residents of Accra are likely to stay completely off the streets and grudgingly observe the partial lockdown that has been imposed on them by the President.
The decision to stay home is not because the security personnel wouldn’t permit them to go out, but due to high transport fares.
Although a lot of people now own their personal cars, a huge percentage of Accra residents rely on commercial vehicles mainly “trotro” and taxis for their daily activities.
While some board it daily to their place of work, others use it in accessing schools, hospitals, markets, banks to transact business and to visit their close pals during weekends.
However, it would be recalled that during the partial lockdown imposed on residents of Accra, the President indicated that “all inter-city passenger vehicles such as trotros and taxis, must reduce the number of passengers in order to observe social distancing and hygiene protocols.”
Since the commencement of the lockdown on Monday, people have been going out using trotros and taxis to transact businesses. The media has shown videos of people who have also been manhandled by the police and military personnel for wandering on the streets with no tangible reason though some argue their reasons are very tangible.
However, with the realization that more people are likely to go out and mar the lockdown exercise, the police have adopted stricter measures.
Residents of Dansoman and its environs going to Kwame Nkrumah Circle would now incur more transportation cost. This is due to the fact that trotros from the area can’t go beyond Kaneshie. This is eventually forcing people to either board taxi and pay more or walk all the way from Kaneshie to Circle.
Many have grumbled about the situation saying it’s unfair, but when this reporter inquired from the police on the ground, they indicated that they are only carrying out an order from above.
By Agnes Ansah / www.thechronicle.com.gh
Pic 1: Some men walking to circle from Kaneshie
Pic 2: Trading ongoing at Kaneshie market despite the lockdown
The post Lockdown: Exorbitant taxi fares deter people from going to town appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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