Public policy think tank and consumer advocacy group, CUTS International, has called on the government to take strong action against commercial drivers who are refusing to implement the recently announced 15% reduction in transport fares.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) announced the nationwide fare cut, which took effect on Saturday, May 24, following a significant drop in fuel prices. However, reports suggest that many drivers and unions have failed to comply, citing unrelated operational costs.
CUTS International described the non-compliance as exploitative and urged Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to deregister and ban drivers who defy the fare directive.
“Fuel prices have dropped significantly, and GPRTU has taken the commendable step of recommending lorry fare reductions by 15%,” said Appiah Kusi Adomako, West Africa Regional Director of CUTS.
“It is only fair that passengers, many of whom are struggling with the high cost of living, see the benefits of this reduction reflected in their daily transport costs.”
CUTS in its statement proposed a three-pronged approach to ensure compliance, beginning with empowering MMDAs to revoke the operating licenses of non-compliant drivers.
Mr. Adomako explained that MMDAs already hold the authority to register and regulate commercial vehicles in their jurisdictions and should be backed by the government to enforce fare policies.
He further recommended that compliant drivers be issued visible stickers to help law enforcement easily identify and sanction violators.
To ease the burden on commuters during the enforcement period, CUTS also suggested that idle university buses from institutions like the University of Ghana, KNUST, UCC, and UPSA be deployed along affected routes to increase capacity and pressure uncooperative drivers.
Looking beyond the immediate issue, CUTS called for greater government investment in public mass transport systems. “Cities like London, New York, Seoul, and Berlin have reliable public transport because their governments invest in it. Ghana must do the same,” Mr. Adomako said.
He urged for the retooling of Ayalolo and Metro Mass Transit (MMT) fleets and the development of dedicated bus lanes to improve service efficiency and reduce congestion.
While acknowledging Ghana’s liberalised economy, CUTS argued that government intervention is still necessary to ensure fairness and stability in public transport pricing—similar to how the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) uses a pricing formula to regulate fuel prices.
“We need consumer-focused transport reforms that promote affordability, fairness, and safety,” Mr. Adomako said. “Now is the time for action.”
