A magistrate court in Akropong, Ashanti Region, has remanded 12 individuals in police detention following a violent protest by several tricycle (Pragya) riders outside the buildings of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on Monday.
They will appear in court again on Tuesday, August 14th.
On Tuesday (8 August), the defendants were charged and arraigned in connection with disturbances that resulted in the destruction of property and the injury of six police officers.
The riders took to the streets after 46 tricycles were confiscated in the Kumasi Central Business District (CBD) for violating transportation rules. When they marched to the KMA headquarters to demand the release of the impounded tricycles, they were met with resistance by the police.
Security has already been increased at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, indicating a premeditated attack. Randy Wilson, the KMA’s Head of the Transport Department, who informed the media on the progress, is pushing all transport unions to use the proper channels to address their issues.
“We have asked them to write to the CEO and the complaints committee so that we can look into the matter and make the necessary changes.” Laws are designed for humans, and if they are not assisting us in living happily, they can be modified…”We know it’s illegal [at the national level], but we want to regulate our mode of transportation within the city,” Wilson explained.
“We expect these transport operators to follow this directive or the entire city will come to a halt,” he said.
