The 8% increase in public transport fares from September 26 may officially settle how much passengers should pay for their daily journeys, but it may not end the extra charges some commuters are already facing on the roads.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) announced the increase after consultations with the Ministry of Transport, citing higher fuel prices, spare parts, vehicle maintenance and other operating costs.
But even before the new fares take effect, some passengers have been paying more than the approved rates, especially when vehicles are difficult to find and demand is high.
On some routes, commuters have had to pay additional amounts to drivers and mates to secure a seat, particularly during busy periods. The shortage of vehicles gives operators room to charge more, leaving passengers with little choice but to pay or wait for another vehicle.
The practice has already attracted enforcement action.
In August, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly arrested a handful of commercial transport operators, including drivers and mates, over alleged overcharging.
The GPRTU has also acknowledged complaints about members charging fares that have not been approved and said sanctions could be imposed on operators who breach the rules.
The latest fare announcement makes the position of the unions clear.
“Charging of fares in excess of the approved rates shall attract the appropriate sanctions from the Unions,” the GPRTU and GRTCC said in their communique.
The challenge, however, is enforcement.
An approved 8% increase only helps commuters if the new rates are actually followed. If drivers and mates continue adding unofficial charges, passengers could end up paying considerably more than the adjustment announced by the unions.
In some cases, the extra charges already being imposed on the previous fares are far above 8%, with passengers on certain routes paying amounts that are almost twice the approved fare. That means the difference between the official fare and what some commuters actually pay can be much larger than the increase announced by the unions.
When several passengers are competing for the few available vehicles, refusing to pay an extra charge can mean being left behind and waiting for another vehicle.
For transport operators, the unions have pointed to genuine cost pressures. Fuel, vehicle parts, repairs and maintenance have all become important factors in determining the cost of running commercial vehicles.
But for commuters, those costs do not remove the need for operators to respect approved fares.
The 8% adjustment also places responsibility on the unions to ensure that drivers and mates comply with the new approved fares. The GPRTU and GRTCC have warned that operators who charge above the approved rates will face sanctions, making enforcement an important part of the new fare regime.
If enforcement remains weak, the official 8% increase may not reflect what many passengers actually pay on the roads.
