Commercial drivers across the country are threatening a nationwide withdrawal of services from Wednesday, November 4, 2026, if government fails to remove traders occupying bus stops and transport terminals.
The unions say they are frustrated by what they describe as selective enforcement of traffic regulations, arguing that while authorities are pushing ahead with the implementation of TraffiTech GH, little is being done to address the challenges drivers face at designated loading and parking points.
The threat follows the nationwide rollout of TraffiTech GH, which has heightened tensions between commercial drivers and road traffic authorities.
The unions, comprising the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the TUC, Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana, True Drivers Union, Ghana Committed Drivers Association and Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, say repeated appeals to government and relevant authorities to clear bus stops and terminals of traders have yielded no results.
They say an earlier one-week ultimatum issued to the authorities has also failed to produce the desired response.
Speaking in an interview on Monday, November 2, 2026, National Deputy PRO of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, warned that the unions would park their vehicles nationwide if their concerns were not addressed by Wednesday.
He accused authorities of prioritising the enforcement of traffic regulations against drivers while neglecting issues affecting their operations.
“It looks like the laws that have to go against drivers are the only ones that they are pushing. The other ones that we think are also giving us challenges, they are neglecting. So we are giving them up to Wednesday. If nothing has been done nationwide, we are going to park our vehicles. Because they gave an explanation that the TraffiTech GH is going to take care of the speeding. We agree with that. But yet, police are still arresting drivers who park at unauthorised places. What about that? They are still taking money from drivers,” he said.
Amoah stressed that the unions are not opposed to TraffiTech GH but are demanding the enforcement of LI 2180, which they say addresses the occupation of roadsides by traders.
He said traders occupying bus stops make it difficult for drivers to park safely and pick up passengers, and called on authorities to engage the unions to resolve the concerns.
“We are not against the TraffiTech GH, no. Before the implementation, we had meetings with ACP Obeng and his men. Regulation 142 is something that is disturbing us. The traders must leave the road, making sure that the drivers will also get suitable places to park their vehicles, to allow passengers to alight and also pick passengers. We don’t know why the law is there and they are not implementing it. So we need some clarification, we need some understanding. So we want to be engaged by the authorities so that we put all these questions before them,” he said.
But the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) has rejected suggestions that TraffiTech GH is intended to target or harass commercial drivers.
Director of Education, Research and Training at the MTTD, ACP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, says the system is designed to improve road safety by tackling speeding and other dangerous driving practices.
He has urged the GPRTU, PROTOA and other commercial driver unions to engage with the police to address their concerns and strengthen efforts to protect road users.
“We don’t think it is harassment at all, but rather it is a help in time. So if there are challenges that they confront, the operators, I know that we should always sit with them, engage and find a workable solution to improve on some of the areas they are concerned about,” he said.
ACP Obeng says that since the rollout began on Sunday, November 1, following public sensitisation, the police have covered 90 per cent of the targeted locations.
The threatened withdrawal of services could disrupt public transport nationwide if the unions and authorities fail to reach an agreement before Wednesday.
By Beatrice Sowah
