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ECONOMIC IMPACT OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR TRICYCLES IN OUR CITIES
Ordinarily, an attempt to analyse economic impact of any form of activity on a community would require that such an activity should be subjected to academic and scientific data analysis. However, a cursory look at such activities could also give one a fair and acceptable idea as to how those activities impact on the economic lives of the people in the community.
In recent times, the activities of operators of motor tricycles, popularly called “Pragia” or “Mahama can do”, for commercial purposes have come into sharp focus. Their operations have been hailed by many Ghanaians for various reasons. However, some other people in the transport sector have also sharply criticized them for some other reasons.
Until recently, the use of the tricycle was common in the northern part of the country. Indeed, the roads in the northern cities and towns are usually covered by swarms of motor bikes of all kind and sizes. Sometimes, the scene of several of them moving together in the same direction is worth mentioning. The interesting bit is where women are sometimes seen rubbing shoulders with the men, thereby exhibiting their riding skills to the admiration of many observers.
The common “Pragia” is predominantly coloured yellow (though some are in other colours such as red, blue, white and green); and apart from the rider (whom some patrons of the tricycle call ‘the driver’) the tricycle takes two or three other passengers. In fact, there are also some that have been slightly elongated in size such that they can take up to five persons.
Most patrons of these commercial tricycles find them very convenient to get onto and alight at any point. Not only that, they also pay a little less than what they would have paid for a taxi cab, Uber or trotro. Obviously, with that kind of engine, the fuel consumption so low, compared to a taxi cab, Uber or trotro. A major advantage “Pragia” has over the other internally operated commercial vehicles is that, due to its relatively small size, it can maneuver and go to every limited space and corner where a taxi cab, Uber or trotro cannot.
It is worth noting that it is not only men who are involved in this commercial transport business. There are also a few women who are occasionally spotted ridding “Pragia” and doing brisk business. Undoubtedly, these have created very large employment opportunities to the young men and women who have adopted the operations of “Pragia” as their occupation. The big question that easily comes to mind is, “where would all these energetic young men and women have been if these commercial tricycles were not available?”
Today, “Pragia” can be seen everywhere in our cities. The business is booming as it is attracting more of the youth who have become bread winners for their respective families. In effect, the “Pragia” business in the informal sector has indirectly reduced the levels of youth unemployment in the country and increased fiscal redistribution in the financial space within the country’s larger economy. Certainly, operations of “Pragia’ or “Mahama can do” can be said to have a positive economic impact on the country.
However, while this could be said to be solving one major unemployment problem, it is at the same time adversely affecting another section in the same transport industry. Indeed, taxi cab drivers especially are also complaining about sharp decline in their daily incomes that is affecting sales to their car owners as a result of the operations of the “Pragia” which fares are relatively less than the taxi cabs.
It therefore did not come to many as a surprise when some taxi drivers expressed satisfaction and joy when as part of measures to fight COVID-19, it was announced in some parts of the country that operators of “Pragia” should be suspended to observe social distancing. What that meant was that a large number of the youth were going to go back into unemployment, and that certainly was going to impact negatively on the economy.
Two options were then left to the men and women in the “Pragia” business. Either ignore the announcement and go ahead with the business as usual and risk the lives of their patrons or reduce the number of persons they take at a time to observe social distancing and enforce wearing of face mask by every passenger. They chose the latter. So now, the numbers of persons a “Pragia” takes at a time is two, and in the case of the elongated ones, the maximum number at a time is three instead of five.
“Pragia” has now come to be part of the transport system in Ghana. Their services have been economic and beneficial to many of the citizenry. Just like taxi cab or Uber, “Pragia” is patronized by both the lower and the middle class of the society. Fortunately, their operations are safer and more recognized than the operations of “Okada” which are almost always having problems with the police and other law enforcement agencies.
So to conclude, perhaps we must support the operations of the “Pragia” riders to boost economic growth and also create more job opportunities for the jobless.
BY JEMIMA Y. AMEWODE
A LEVEL 300 JOURNALISM STUDENT
GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM
A woman who is accused of bolting with ‘susu’ money totaling GH₵156,445 has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.
Martha Nana Esi Afful was alleged to have collected the money from 35 complainants.
Charged with 35 counts of fraudulent breach of trust, Martha, who was earlier remanded, pleaded not guilty.
The court, presided over by Mr Joseph Y. Kuunsong on Wednesday, admitted the accused person to a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties.
One of the sureties, the court said, must be a public servant earning not less than GH₵5,000.
She is expected to reappear on August 12, 2026.
The Prosecution’s case before the court is that the complainants are traders and residents at La in Accra.
Prosecution described Martha as a ‘Susu’ collector, who resided at Burma Camp.
The court heard that the accused person run a business with the name ‘ZOE’ and she deceived the 35 complainants into believing that she collected ‘Susu’ daily, which was kept for a period of one-three years, and paid interest on the money invested.
The complainants contributed in 2023 for a three-year period, prosecution said.
In December 2025, when the complainants went to take their money with interest, Martha went into hiding and only took phone calls from a few complainants.
Prosecution said the accused provided a MTN Momo number through which a few of the complainants still paid monies.
It said all efforts made to collect the money, totaling GH₵156,445 from her, proved futile.
On June 14, 2026, a report was made to the police and Martha was picked up at a washing bay at Tse Addo.
During interrogation, she admitted the offence in her caution statement, saying she lost her husband and relocated to Swedru in the Central Region, hence the complainants were unable to reach her from December 2025 till date.
Prosecution said Martha further stated that she had invested the monies into refuse collection business and she needed time to pay the amount.
Police are investigating the claims. –GNA
A Public Health Nurse at the Roman Ridge Sub-Municipal of the Ayawaso West Health Directorate, Ms Patience Adoli Kporxah, has cautioned the public against coming into contact with floodwaters, warning that exposure can lead to serious diseases, infections and injuries.
Floodwater, she said, should always be treated as contaminated, regardless of how clean it appears, because it may contain sewage, human and animal waste, chemicals, fuel, sharp objects and disease-causing micro-organisms.
In an interview with The Spectator in Accra on Thursday, Ms Kporxah explained that contact with contaminated floodwater exposes people to bacteria, viruses, parasites, hazardous chemicals and other physical hazards that can result in illness or injury.
Her advice came in the wake of recent exposure to floodwater following Monday’s torrential rains that left vast areas of the capital flooded.
As a result, a lot of people were seen either ‘swimming’ in the floodwater to rescue people or retrieving items being washed away.
According to her, exposure to floodwater could cause skin infections, particularly where there are cuts or open wounds, as well as diarrhoea diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery and other forms of gastroenteritis if contaminated water was swallowed.
Other health risks, she said include hepatitis A, eye and ear infections, tetanus in people with untreated wounds or incomplete vaccination, and injuries from submerged sharp objects, debris or electrical hazards.
Ms Kporxah advised anyone who had contact with floodwater to monitor their health closely and seek immediate medical attention if they develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, severe headache, muscle aches, skin rash, difficulty breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
She also urged people whose wounds became red, swollen, painful or begin to discharge pus, as well as those who accidentally swallow floodwater, to report to the nearest health facility without delay.
Although not everyone exposed to floodwater requires immediate treatment, she stressed that pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems, individuals living with chronic illnesses and those with significant wounds should seek prompt medical evaluation.
On water safety, Ms Kporxah cautioned that rainwater was not automatically safe for drinking or cooking, especially during or after flooding. She explained that rainwater collected from roofs, gutters or open containers could be contaminated by bird and animal droppings, dust, leaves, bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical pollutants.
She advised that rainwater intended for drinking should first be treated by boiling, chlorination or another approved water purification method before use.
Touching on food safety, Ms Kporxah said factory-sealed bottled drinks and canned foods with intact packaging might still be safe after flooding.
However, she stressed that any containers submerged in floodwater should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected before handling. Foods in paper packaging, damaged containers or products with broken seals should be discarded because contaminated water may have seeped into them.
She further warned that flooding increases the risk of outbreaks of cholera, typhoid fever and other waterborne diseases through contaminated water sources.
In addition, she said flooding could contribute to respiratory illnesses in overcrowded shelters and mould-infested buildings, foodborne illnesses from spoiled or contaminated food, and mental health conditions such as anxiety, stress, depression and trauma.
It could also disrupt access to medicines and healthcare for people living with chronic conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, asthma and kidney disease.
Ms Kporxah therefore urged the public to practice good hygiene, avoid unnecessary contact with floodwater, consume only safe food and drinking water, and seek medical attention promptly whenever symptoms develop.
She said observing these preventive measures would help minimise the risk of disease outbreaks and protect lives as the country continues to experience heavy rains and flooding in some communities.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
