‘If the government stops us from operating, we will become robbers’ – Pragya riders lament

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Tricycle riders in the capital have noted that the business has been a great source of employment for them.

Earlier, the government decided to ban the usage of vehicles in Ghana to ease traffic congestion.

However, the riders have noted that if there is a ban on the usage, many of them will be forced to venture into unscrupulous activities including robbery.

Speaking to GhanaWeb Business, a rider said, “It will be hard because there are no jobs in the country currently.”

Another rider said, “If they ask us to stop driving, we will steal, we will pull guns on people and rob them.”

However, those involved in the business have not been left out of the harsh economic conditions that have plagued this country.

According to the riders, the price has more than doubled over the past four years.

A tricycle which was sold for GH¢9,200 in 2020 is currently being sold for GH¢26,000 according to a rider who spoke to GhanaWeb TV in a special report.

He said, “I bought it for GH¢9,200 in 2020, and now it’s GH¢26,000. Sometimes, I make GH¢250, GH¢300, or GH¢400 in sales depending on the day.”

When asked if riding the tricycle was a profitable venture, he said, “Oh, it’s good, especially if the tricycle is yours. If you have to make sales, that’s when you may struggle a bit.”

Other riders also noted that the tricycle business was profitable; therefore, a ban on their operations would be detrimental to their livelihood.