The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has issued a firm warning to commercial drivers against charging fares above approved rates, urging passengers to resist any unauthorised increases and report offending operators.
Public Relations Officer of the union, Abass Imoro, made the call in an interview with Channel One TV on Tuesday, December 23, stressing that arbitrary fare hikes are illegal and punishable under the law.
He explained that fare adjustments follow a clear and transparent process and are officially communicated to the public to avoid confusion and abuse.
“Each time we adjust fares, either up or down, a formal communiqué is issued by the Ministry of Transport and disseminated through the media. Since the 15 percent reduction, fares have remained unchanged,” he said.
Imoro cautioned that any driver who independently increases fares is breaking the law and engaging in unfair conduct.
“If anybody on their own decides to raise the fare, they are violating the law. It is the duty of law enforcement to take action against such practices. As a union, we do not support this behaviour; it amounts to cheating,” he stated.
He charged passengers to play an active role in enforcing compliance by refusing to patronise vehicles that charge beyond the approved rates.
“Passengers must resist paying more than the approved fare. If you refuse to board a vehicle charging beyond the regulated rate, operators will be compelled to comply with the law,” he added.
The warning comes amid mounting complaints from commuters across several urban centres, where drivers are accused of charging arbitrary fares, raising fresh concerns about monitoring, enforcement, and discipline within the public transport system.