Coronavirus in Guinea: the transport sector hit hard by the pandemic

Transport is one of the sectors most affected by this pandemic period, it is suffering from the problems of the virus everywhere. It is in its economic aspect that the impact has been greatly felt. Union, driver and users all suffer the impact of covid19 in the same way.

Until then, the world had not had to face a crisis as formidable as the coronavirus. Beyond its human victims, it is the systems on which countries rely to fall victim to the virus. Across the world, several sectors have been put to the test by the devastating effect of the virus. In Guinea the interurban land transport sector has not been marginalized. He was seriously affected.

He greatly felt the harm caused by the virus through the authorities' desire to minimize the spread of the virus by imposing restrictive measures. In particular the limitation to three the number of people in a taxi which could take up to five passengers before COVID19. This led to the increase in the price of transport, the section doubled.

This situation has had a negative impact on intercity transport professionals. “Do you understand that our job is to transport, now we no longer transport, people no longer pay us. Economically we cannot consider that we have an advantage, there is a total breakdown in the transport of people and goods, so in view of all that, we have had enormous losses” laments the general secretary of the communal union section of transporters in the commune of Ratoma, Elhadj Mamadou Yaya Baldé.

Taxi drivers are also affected by the crisis. Despite the multiplication of the price of transport by two, the section, they have difficulty ensuring the revenue. Some bosses are very demanding. “Before covid we gave 100,000 fg per day as a recipe but now, it varies between 80,000 gnf and 85,000 gnf.  There are other bosses who have not agreed to make cuts for their workers.” says a taxi driver, encountered in the streets of Conakry.

As for citizens, moving around Conakry is like pulling the devil by the tail. “Really these measures do not encourage the movement of citizens,” testifies a student, a public transport user before pointing an accusing finger at the authorities.

To relieve the population, some people believe that the government had taken supporting measures, notably reducing the price of fuel at the pump. We remind you that nowadays, a liter of fuel is sold at 9,500 GNF.

Ibrahima Sory BAH