By Charles Amponsah
A 15% reduction in transport fares was supposed to offer relief. Instead, it has exposed the cracks in Ghana’s chaotic public transport system — and left commuters stranded, frustrated, and sometimes in danger.
The directive, announced by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), took effect on Saturday, May 24, following a drop in fuel prices. But despite clear instructions from the union, many drivers are still charging the old fares. Their reasons? Soaring costs of vehicle maintenance, spare parts, and the pressure to meet daily sales.
This resistance is unfolding against the backdrop of declining inflation. According to the Ghana Statistical Service, year-on-year inflation dropped to 21.2% in April 2025, the fifth consecutive monthly decline. Transport inflation, a major item in the Consumer Price Index basket, fell from 16.8% in March to 14.9% in April — a 1.9 percentage point drop.
Yet, this progress in the macroeconomic indicators isn’t filtering down to everyday commuters.
Disobedience on the road
General Secretary of the GPRTU, Godfred Abulbire, made it clear: drivers who flout the directive will be punished. “One of the punishments drivers fear most is being stopped from loading passengers,” he said. But the union admits it lacks enforcement power. “Strict and full compliance depends on law enforcement agencies,” Abulbire added.
On the ground, however, the story is different.
A commercial driver in Accra, Acheampong Baafi Francis, snapped when questioned: “Why is it that always your eyes are on drivers? Have you checked on the spare parts we buy every day?”
Another driver echoed the frustration: “Go and ask the price of oil, engine and spare parts.”
Commuters are paying the price — quite literally. Winnie Kotey, a passenger who regularly travels from Nsawam to Accra, said: “They are still collecting the same amount. Nsawam to Accra, La to Makola — same amount too.”
One commuter, clearly exasperated, said: “I almost slapped one driver this morning.”
The Cost of Non-Compliance
The impact of non-compliance with the new fares is more than inconvenience — it’s costing commuters millions.
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Forced exploitation in the name of short routes
Beyond fare disobedience, a more troubling trend is emerging — the exploitation of passengers through route manipulation. Some drivers deliberately divide longer routes into smaller legs to justify charging multiple fares, especially during rush hour.
A typical journey from Kasoa to Kwame Nkrumah Circle — normally GH¢11 — can now cost up to GH¢20. Passengers are made to pay GH¢5 from Kasoa to Old Barrier, another GH¢5 to Mallam Junction, GH¢5 to Kaneshie, and GH¢4 more to Circle — often in the same vehicle.
This scheme is not limited to Accra. In the Ashanti Region, residents of Adwumaim and surrounding towns have similar complaints. “What should cost GH¢5 now takes GH¢20 during rush hours,” a resident said.
The Ghana Statistical Service warns of the risks such trends pose. In its April inflation release, it urged businesses, especially in transport-heavy sectors, to take advantage of easing cost pressures and provide relief to consumers.
Desperation in deprived communities
In Accra’s outskirts — places like Adjie Kojo, Kanewu, Suncity, Auntie Araba, and Golf City — the problem is less about fare manipulation and more about survival. There, passengers often beg drivers just to get a ride.
“We are not getting cars. We don’t have any say, so we will pay,” one resident said.
Poor road networks only worsen the crisis. In some areas, commuters attribute high fares to the terrible state of the roads. They’re pleading with government and the GPRTU to focus not only on fare compliance but also on infrastructure.
A deadly price
Beyond inconvenience and frustration, fare disputes have turned tragic. In 2022, a man believed to be in his thirties died after a fight with a trotro mate over a GH¢2 fare increment at the Lapaz bus terminal in Accra.
Such incidents are not isolated. Whenever fares are adjusted, altercations in trotros become common — a sign of just how fragile the relationship between drivers and passengers has become.
Conclusion
Ghana’s transport sector stands at a crossroads. Inflation is slowing, and fare reductions have been announced, but ground realities — including non-compliance, fare exploitation, and access challenges — continue to undermine these gains.
Unless fare policies are enforced consistently, and the operational pressures on drivers are addressed, the intended economic relief may remain out of reach for the very commuters it’s meant to support.
