The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has blamed the worsening traffic congestion in Accra for the growing public transport challenges confronting commuters, particularly during peak morning and evening hours.
According to the Union, persistent gridlock in the capital is preventing commercial drivers from completing multiple trips and returning to terminals on schedule, resulting in long queues, delays, and overcrowding at major transport stations.
Speaking in an interview, the National Chairman of the GPRTU, Nana Nimako Asiamah, dismissed claims that commercial drivers were deliberately creating shortages to justify fare hikes.
“There is no artificial scarcity from our side. The real issue is traffic congestion in Accra. Drivers are unable to return to the stations on time, especially in the mornings and evenings, to pick up more passengers,” he explained.
His remarks follow comments by the Minister for Government Communications, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu, who recently suggested that unlawful practices by some private transport operators were compounding the transport crisis in the capital.
The Minister alleged that certain drivers were intentionally creating artificial shortages during peak hours to force commuters to pay higher fares, despite reductions in fuel prices and an agreed 15 per cent cut in approved transport fares.
He cited instances where drivers allegedly bypassed designated terminals to roam parts of the city in search of passengers willing to pay more, describing the practice as illegal and warning that government would act against offenders.
Responding to these concerns, Nana Asiamah acknowledged that some drivers were charging unapproved fares but assured the public that the GPRTU would take disciplinary action against any of its members found culpable.
He noted, however, that enforcement remained challenging because some vehicles lacked proper identification, making it difficult to determine whether offending drivers belonged to the Union or to other transport associations.
To address the problem, the GPRTU Chairman called on government to collaborate with transport unions to introduce a reliable vehicle identification system that would improve monitoring and enforcement.
“We are prepared to engage government and work together with other transport unions to find lasting solutions to the challenges facing public transport in Accra,” he said.
