Three major commercial driver unions have issued a firm ultimatum to government authorities, threatening to embark on a nationwide strike on Monday, May 19, 2025, if hawkers are not cleared from pedestrian walkways, road shoulders, and bus terminals.

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, and True Drivers Union say the growing practice of hawking in high-traffic areas is not only illegal but also poses serious safety risks to pedestrians, drivers, and the hawkers themselves.

At a joint press conference held on Monday, Deputy Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, criticized the continued inaction by city authorities, saying the situation reflects a blatant disregard for Section 17 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180)—which explicitly prohibits the selling or display of goods on roads, pedestrian walkways, and intersections.

“I am calling on the Ministry of Roads and Highways, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of the Interior, and all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure full compliance with the law,” Mr. Amoah stated.

The unions argue that despite repeated calls for enforcement, hawkers continue to crowd roadsides, especially in central business districts across the country, hampering traffic flow and endangering lives.

Speaking on behalf of the Concerned Drivers Association, the National PRO warned that the strike will not be limited to Accra alone.

“After the strike in Accra on Monday, we’ll move to Kumasi, then to Bono, and across all 16 regions. We’ll not return to work until hawkers are evacuated from our roadsides,” he said.

The planned industrial action, if carried out, is expected to cause widespread disruption in public transport across Ghana and put pressure on authorities to enforce existing road regulations.

As of press time, there had been no official response from the relevant ministries or city authorities.