The life of a commercial driver's bus conductor and citizens hung in the balance after being threatened by an individual stationed at a loading terminal, who reportedly charged drivers a fee for every passenger that boarded their vehicle on Wednesday, October 2.

The loading assistant, commonly referred to as a "shadow boy," attempted to stab a driver's 'trotro mate' for failing to pay him an amount of GHC 5 at Madina after a passenger boarded his vehicle.

Before the fierce confrontation, the driver of the public transit vehicle informed the loading assistants that he would pay the money they demanded after making some trips. However, the two loading assistants refused his request and continued to press him for payment.

The loading assistants obstructed the vehicle from moving while the bus conductor remained adamant about paying them. This led the driver to engage one of the loading assistants, resulting in a physical altercation as the loading assistant held onto the driver's outfit. An officer with the Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) intervened to prevent the situation from escalating.

Simultaneously, the second loading assistant, who was armed with a sharp object, boarded the vehicle and threatened to stab the bus conductor. Some male passengers, displeased with the encounter, defended the bus conductor but were also threatened by the loading assistant.

Incessant panic and calls for resolution eventually persuaded the loading assistant to disembark the vehicle, but he continued to make his demands. The MTTD officer directed the driver to drive away.

The genesis of "shadow boys" and their role in the country's transport system remains unclear. Their presence seems to augment the efforts of a bus conductor in finding passengers, but their actions are often not appreciated by either bus conductors or passengers. Many commuters believe the role they play is redundant, as bus conductors are competent enough to draw passengers for the driver.

In many instances, these "shadow boys," without being tasked, call for passengers and end up quarrelling with bus conductors for failing to pay them. Many commuters have made a clarion call to stakeholders in the transportation sector, such as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU)—a trade union representing commercial drivers, porters, guards, and commercial vehicle owners—to intervene and provide order, as well as protect the lives of passengers, drivers, and bus conductors.