The Federation of Ghana Traders has urged the government to engage commercial drivers and transport stakeholders over concerns regarding the implementation of the Traffitech system and removal of traders and hawkers from bus stops across the country.

In a statement, the federation warned that “it will be unlawful for the commercials drivers to embark on vigilante act of removing traders from the bus stops stating that this is the work of the local government authorities”, hence arguing that such enforcement is the responsibility of local government authorities.

The traders' federation urged the “government to engage commercial drivers and their leadership to address their concerns, promote compliance and ensure that the implementation process is conducted in an orderly manner”.

They added that the successful implementation of Traffitech requires  “cooperation, discipline and a shared commitment from all stakeholders to ensure that the system does not unnecessarily disrupt commercial activities and the movement of goods and services”.

Although the federation acknowledged that traders and hawkers do not have the right to operate at bus stops, the leadership, however, stressed “its equally not right for the commercial drivers to remove them”.

They further called for an effective communication and coordination among relevant authorities, transport operators and the trading community to prevent disruptions that could affect businesses, traders and consumers.

On the Traffitech, the federation stated that technological interventions may help improve transport management and enforcement but “their implementation should be accompanied by stakeholder engagement, public education and clear guidelines”.

The Federation of Ghana Traders appealed to the government to resolve their concerns ensuring all parties act responsibly in the interest of national economy.

“We remain committed to constructive engagement with the government and all relevant stakeholders to protect the interests of traders and promote a stable business environment.”

The statement was signed by Takyi Addo, Founder of the Federation of Ghana Traders.