The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has pushed back against Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's assertion that the newly introduced automated transport ticketing system, 'Tap n’ Go', will eventually be rolled out on intra-city transport minivans, popularly known as ‘trotro’.
During the launch of the tap n’ go app, Dr. Bawumia dismissed claims that the new system was merely a replica of the ayalolo bus system from the previous administration. He revealed that unlike the closed loop system of the ayalolo cards, which could only be used for the ayalolo buses, the tap n’ go app would eventually encompass all public transport, including trotros.
However, in response to this, Abass Moro, the Industrial Relations Officer of the GPRTU, expressed skepticism about the Vice President's vision of implementing the tap n’ go system on trotros. Moro emphasized that the nature of trotro operations makes it impractical for the tap n’ go system to be effective in that context. He explained that trotros primarily operate for short distances and frequently pick up and drop off passengers along their routes, making it challenging to implement a digital payment system.
Moro also criticized the lack of consultation with GPRTU regarding the implementation of the tap n’ go system, stating that their input could have provided valuable insights. He questioned the level of awareness created to encourage people to opt for the card system, especially considering that many individuals still have funds locked up on their ayalolo cards.
The Tap n’ Go transport service, according to the government, aims to revolutionize the transport ecosystem in Ghana by providing services for intra and inter-city bus services, trotro, parcel delivery and tracking, loading taxi service, trains, and an on-demand uber-like service. The government asserts that Tap n’ Go seeks to address longstanding challenges in the public transport sector, such as delays at stations, difficulties in identifying passengers in case of accidents, corruption with drivers under-declaring their earnings, and various other issues related to cash transactions.
In conclusion, the GPRTU's stance underscores the complexities involved in implementing a digital payment system like Tap n’ Go within the context of trotro operations. The concerns raised by GPRTU highlight the importance of comprehensive consultation and consideration of practical challenges in the deployment of new technologies within the public transport sector.
-By Tetteh Belinda | Mydailyreports24
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