A special task force of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has arrested 17 commercial drivers in Amasaman for allegedly charging unapproved transport fares, sparking fresh debate over fare regulation and enforcement within the transport sector.
The arrests were carried out during a targeted operation aimed at flushing out drivers who have reportedly been exploiting commuters by imposing arbitrary fare increases without authorization from transport unions or regulatory bodies. According to the task force, the affected drivers were found collecting fares above the officially approved rates, in clear violation of union directives.
Officials of the GPRTU said the operation followed numerous complaints from passengers in Amasaman and surrounding communities who accused some drivers of taking advantage of rising fuel and maintenance costs to justify illegal fare hikes. The union stressed that while economic pressures on drivers are real, no individual operator has the right to unilaterally adjust fares.
“The union has not announced any new fare increment. Any driver who charges more than the approved fares is acting illegally and will be sanctioned,” a member of the task force stated during the exercise.
The arrested drivers were reportedly cautioned and subjected to disciplinary measures in line with GPRTU regulations, while some were asked to refund excess fares collected from passengers. The task force warned that tougher sanctions, including suspension from operating on certain routes, could be imposed on repeat offenders.
Commuters in Amasaman welcomed the crackdown, describing it as a timely intervention to protect passengers from exploitation amid ongoing economic hardship. Many called on the union to sustain the monitoring exercise and extend it to other transport hubs across the Greater Accra Region.
The GPRTU has reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing fare compliance and urged drivers to adhere strictly to approved charges, assuring the public that similar operations will continue until sanity is restored in the transport sector.
