By: Ewoenam Kpodo | Voltaonlinegh.com |
It gained currency under the erstwhile Mahama led administration as an alternative means of transportation in some parts of the country and got named after the former president.
The now popular tricycle, best known in the country as “Mahama Camboo” which has been receiving patronage from a number of residents in other areas, has finally found its way into the Ho municipality, where more and more people are beginning to endorse its services.
In 2015 the past government through the Micro Finance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) distributed the “yellow-yellow” tricycles to some youth in the Northern Region to serve the transportation need of people in that part of the country. The former president was also reported to have entered Wa Township on a two-day visit, in a tricycle.
It has since become a toast of many commuters in the peri-urban areas and beginning to enjoy high patronage in the Ho Township since its introduction two months ago.
In the first week of its operations, patrons enjoyed free ride to any part of the regional capital, after which the operators began charging very moderate fares.
Passengers are charged GH₵1.00 for short distance and GH₵1.50 for long distance within the Ho Township, almost half less what taxis charge (GH₵1.80 for short distance), thus giving tough competition to the drivers.
Speaking to Voltaonlinegh.com, some people attributed their patronage of the tricycles largely to economic reasons, as it is cheaper compared to regular taxi services.
This, some taxi drivers in town were however not enthused about, claiming, the tricycles unlike taxis, do not consume much fuel and their spare parts are cheaper among other things.
Apart from taxi drivers, a group, Road Safety Advocates Ghana, was reported to have described as unlawful the use of these tricycles for commercial purposes asking authorities to regulate their use.
Meanwhile, there seems to be an emerging trend where people for some reasons, forgo cars in favour of the tricycles.
A couple, Simon and Faustina Dakudzi, a 35-year old Carpenter and a 33-year old provision shop owner respectively, got married over the weekend at Remar Anointing Church at Deme-Barrier near Ho in the Volta Region.
The two were greeted with cheers as they drove through town in the now famous ‘Mahama Camboo’ as their wedding getaway car.
Earlier in April this year, a couple in Kumasi, Mr and Mrs Kusi, an IT teacher at Kumasi Senior High Technical and a business woman respectively, hit the street of the garden city in similar fashion, using tricycles for their wedding ceremony, according to media reports.
Though the Dakudzis fell on the ‘Mahama Camboo’ as a means of cutting cost and living within their means, they still desired to do something out of the ordinary as explained by Faustina who told Voltaonlinegh.com, that “we want to have a wedding that is memorable, something that others have not done, yet within our own means” just as the Kusis who saw it as an adventure and an occasion to make a difference and create options for others.
For now, irrespective of arguments for and against its operations, it appears this new means of transportation has come to stay. Iit however behooves on the relevant authorities to regulate its operation to ensure the safety of patrons.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
