The drivers’ union, Alliance of Drivers Ghana, has announced a 20% increase in transportation fares. This is to take effect from Monday, 17th March, 2025.
Their decision, they claim, was influenced by the rising costs of fuel, engine oil costs and the increasing price rates of car spare parts. Appealing to the public for their cooperation, Kwaku Boateng, the National Public Relations Officer of the Union, mentioned that passengers should understand the financial strain on the transportation sector.
He said, “We are going to increase our fares by 20 percent, and we are pleading with our passengers to bear with us because the price of engine oil and spare parts have all gone up.” Expressing his distaste about the government not having anything about tariff reduction in the 2025 Budget which was read on March 11, 2025, Mr. Boateng, speaking to Citi News, highlighted, “The budget came, and we heard nothing about tariff reductions, yet the Finance Minister stood and spoke the whole day.”
Mr. Boateng also noted that for a long time, the drivers have been shouldering the rising cost of operational services, however, due to the continuous rise in their expenses has made it inevitable for them to increase transportation fares. For a couple of years, it has become the norm in Ghana that a rise in fuel or diesel prices and other items for car management, means an increase in transportation fares. This usually results in scuffles, fights, arguments and on some occassions, death, between passengers and bus conductors popularly known as “mates”, over transportation fares.
This is usually seen when there is an announcement of an increment in transportation fares by the various drivers’ unions. Increment in transportation fares means angry passengers, bus conductors and drivers.
However, due to the rising prices of engine oil, tires, and spare parts, it has become a difficult feat for transport operators to sustain their businesses without making fare adjustments. Inflation and currency depreciation also play a key role in these increments.
Although there have been many appeals to the government for its intervention especially for policies which will reduce the financial burden on drivers, there has been no improvement and it seems that the pleas of the various drivers’ unions have fallen on deaf ears.
Source: Dehotpress
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