The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has warned commercial drivers against illegally increasing fares, urging passengers to report any unauthorized charges.

Abass Imoro, the Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, issued the warning on Tuesday, December 23, during an interview with Channel One TV. He emphasized that arbitrarily raising fares is against the law and will not be tolerated.

According to Imoro, any adjustments to fares are made through a transparent process, with official communiqués issued by the Ministry of Transport and widely publicized. He stated, “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 cautioned drivers who attempt to independently increase fares, labeling it as illegal and unfair. “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,” Imoro explained.

The GPRTU is calling on passengers to actively resist paying more than the approved fares. “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,” Imoro added.

This warning follows a surge in complaints from commuters in various cities, who allege drivers are charging fares arbitrarily, raising concerns about monitoring and discipline within the public transport sector.

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