DEGLORY GH MEDIA

Consumer advocacy organization and public policy think tank, CUTS International, has urged the government to take firm action against commercial drivers refusing to implement the newly announced 15% reduction in transport fares.

The fare cut, announced by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), took effect on Saturday, May 24, following a notable decline in fuel prices. Despite this directive, several drivers and unions have reportedly failed to comply, citing unrelated operational expenses.

Describing the drivers’ defiance as exploitative, CUTS International called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to deregister and ban non-compliant operators.

“Fuel prices have dropped significantly, and GPRTU’s move to reduce fares by 15% is a step in the right direction,” said Appiah Kusi Adomako, West Africa Regional Director of CUTS. “It is only fair that passengers, who are already grappling with a high cost of living, benefit from this reduction.”

He further proposed the issuance of visible stickers to compliant drivers, enabling law enforcement to easily identify and penalize those who flout the directive.

To alleviate the burden on passengers and support enforcement, CUTS also recommended that idle university buses from institutions such as the University of Ghana, KNUST, UCC, and UPSA be deployed along major routes. This would not only increase transport capacity but also put pressure on uncooperative drivers to comply.