The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is stepping up efforts to ensure the smooth implementation of the recently announced 15% reduction in transport fares, following reports of non-compliance by some commercial drivers.
Controversies have broken up in various parts of the country between transport operators and passengers since the reduction kicked started on Saturday.
Many drivers have defied the GPRTU’s directive, charging the old fares, leading to brawls in some commercial vehicles.
Reacting to the controversy, Industrial Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Abass Imoro, has expressed deep concern over incidents of defiance by certain drivers, including one who allegedly forced passengers to disembark after refusing to accept the new fares.
“I read an article this morning on one of the social media platforms that one driver even picked up passengers halfway, he turned and returned those passengers to circle and force them to alight from the vehicle, and he is not going to take the new reduced fare. It’s just so unfortunate, ” he bemoaned.
Abass Imoro emphasized that such actions are not only illegal but also a betrayal of the public trust.
To ensure strict compliance, the Industrial Relations Officer is urging passengers to report recalcitrant drivers to the police.
Imoro Abass says all passengers who encounter drivers refusing to comply with the new fares to report them immediately to the nearest police station with the vehicle registration number for swift action.
He said, “The law is there. Anybody who refuses is mainly cheating passengers by taking old fares from them. So we advise that any similar case should be reported to the police.”
He further assured the public that the GPRTU is committed to working with law enforcement and other transport unions to ensure compliance and protect commuters from being overcharged. According to him, the fare reduction, though not new, is in line with standard procedures when economic conditions permit.
He says the union is not out to punish drivers but to uphold the law to ensure fairness to passengers. Drivers who ignore the new fares, he says, are not just disobeying the law but also exploiting passengers.
The industrial relations officer’s reassurance comes as a beacon of hope for commuters, signaling the Union’s determination to restore order, protect passengers, and ensure that the benefits of the fare cut are fully realized.
The GPRTU is calling on all drivers to comply, and on passengers to remain vigilant and report any wrongdoing. With support from the public and firm enforcement from the police, the Union believes the fare adjustment will soon be embraced across the board, bringing much-needed relief to Ghanaians amidst tough economic times.
