Source: newsthemegh.com
The Ministry of Transportation has adopted a strong position against commercial drivers who have increased transit fares above the authorized levels, placing commuters under more financial duress.
The Ministry ordered the Ghana Police Service and other security authorities to detain any motorist who is discovered to be in violation of the current fare restrictions on Sunday, April 14, 2024.
The Ministry stressed the significance of sticking to the current fares set by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of TUC as negotiations for revised public transport fares with the Road Transport Operators continue in response to the recent spike in fuel prices and operating costs.
The Public Relations Unit of the Ministry emphasized that drivers need to adhere to the set fares and threatened legal action against those who do not.
The GPRTU and GRTCC jointly released a statement on Thursday, April 11, 2024, endorsing the Ministry’s instruction and advising commuters not to pay any additional fees over and beyond the authorized tariffs.
They affirmed that continuing talks with the Ministry of Transport are aimed at resolving the tariff adjustments and decried as illegal the unilateral fare increases by select commercial drivers.
Two transport operating groups, the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) and the Transport Operators of Ghana, announced a 15% fare hike that would take effect on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in response to the issues presented by growing fuel costs and related expenses.
These groups justified the rate increase by pointing to rising fuel prices, government inaction on lowering the cost of gasoline, and the high cost of car maintenance and lubricants. In contrast to these independent tariff adjustments, the Ministry’s instruction emphasizes the necessity of adhering to the established fare structures until additional agreement is reached.
The Ministry seeks to protect passengers from unwarranted fee hikes at this round of ongoing discussions by upholding fair and consistent public transport pricing and calling for tight enforcement by the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies.