Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambia Transport Union (GTU) has called on the government to introduce a zonal operating system for tricycle drivers, citing growing safety and regulatory concerns within the sector.
The proposal forms part of a nine-point resolution adopted during a recent GTU town hall meeting held at the Buffer Zone. Following the meeting, a detailed policy document outlining the resolutions was submitted to the government through the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure on 3 October 2025.
GTU President Omar Ceesay noted that tricycles currently operate freely across the country, including along major highways such as Bertil Harding Highway, without any defined structure or safety framework.
“If a zone is created, many Gambians will be involved because this can create a lot of employment for the Gambian people, but 90 percent of those operating this tricycle are not Gambians because the sector is not regulated,” he stated.
He further explained that tricycles are not legally recognized for commercial passenger transport under the Gambia’s Motor Traffic Act, as no existing provision allows them to operate in that capacity. Despite this, he added, many tricycles continue to carry passengers daily, mostly driven by foreign nationals.
Ceesay emphasized that the GTU is urging the government to register all tricycles operating in the country to establish an official record of their numbers and ownership. This, he said, would enhance transparency, accountability, and sector organization.
The union also proposed that tricycles should be limited to carrying between three and four passengers, in line with taxi capacity regulations. “Taxis cannot be four passengers, and this tricycle be six passengers.”
Additionally, the GTU recommended that tricycle operators undergo specialized driver training, given the unique handling and operational requirements of these vehicles.
Ceesay concluded that implementing these measures would not only improve safety and order on the roads but also open up formal employment opportunities for Gambians within the tricycle transport sector.
“If these are done, they will be creating employment opportunities for many Gambians,” he said.
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