Kumasi’s tricycles redefine urban transport despite legal hurdles

In Kumasi, tricycles known locally as pragya have become an unlikely solution to urban mobility challenges.

Despite a national law prohibiting their use for commercial passenger transport, these three-wheeled vehicles are now a lifeline for thousands of daily commuters.

Introduced informally, pragya tricycles offer a cheaper and more flexible mode of transport, especially in densely populated and hard-to-reach areas.

For many young people in Kumasi, they also provide a vital source of employment.

While the 2012 Road Traffic Regulations ban motorcycles and tricycles from commercial passenger service, government discussions about potential reforms continue.

During his first state of the nation address, former President John Dramani Mahama hinted at plans to revisit and amend these rules.

As conversations around legalization gain momentum, the Tricycle Operators Association is stepping up efforts to bring some order to the sector.

During a recent three-day visit to Kumasi, national and regional leaders met with hundreds of riders to promote road safety and lawful conduct.

“This initiative will help streamline our operations, making it easier for the government to regulate the sector,” said Hamza Hafiz, National Chairman of the Tricycle Operators Association. “It will also allow us to identify and remove those whose misconduct tarnishes the industry’s reputation.”

The meetings addressed key issues, including the troubling number of underaged drivers. Association leaders pledged to crack down on minors operating tricycles, reaffirming the legal driving age of 21.

The National Road Safety Authority is backing the initiative, urging riders to follow traffic rules and operate responsibly.

Officials hope that improved discipline will support the eventual formalization of tricycle transport in Ghana’s cities.