The DCE in a meeting with some drivers
District Chief Executive (DCE) for Shai Osudoku in the Greater Accra Region, Ignatius Godfred Dodoe, has made a passionate appeal to commercial drivers and okada riders to strictly comply with the 15% reduction in lorry fares announced by the GPRTU two weeks ago.
The Assembly has noted the failure of some commercial drivers to fully adhere to the new transport fare reductions.
Transport charges across Ghana were reduced by 15% starting Saturday, May 24, 2025, following successful negotiations between transport operators and the Ministry of Transport. The fare adjustment reflects recent macroeconomic improvements, including the sustained appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the US dollar, which has contributed to a significant drop in fuel prices.
Though the reductions have largely been implemented nationwide, many fares still fall short of the 15% threshold, with some drivers refusing to comply altogether. This has led to heated exchanges between passengers and drivers.
During a stakeholder engagement with drivers at the Shai Osudoku District Assembly, Ignatius Dodoe emphasised the critical role drivers play in the economy. He stressed that the positive gains made by the cedi against major trading currencies like the dollar must be reflected in the livelihoods of the people, with drivers playing a key role.
“We’re all seeing the decline of the dollar, and what it means is that as the dollar falls, prices must also reduce. But as transport owners and operators, you play a crucial role in the movement of the economy,” he stated, explaining that transport fares directly influence the cost of goods and services.
Explaining that the meeting with transport operators was prompted by complaints from the travelling public about unfair fares, he stressed that the government’s good policies must benefit everyone.
According to him, the engagement aimed to reach an amicable compromise with the drivers.
“We find it very important as a district, based on the complaints we’ve received from your clients and customers. Even though the government has announced reductions in fuel prices, it appears that our transport rates remain unchanged,” said the Assembly Chief.
Admitting that fare adjustments are influenced by more than just fuel prices, the DCE pointed to other contributing factors, including the state of roads and the high cost of spare parts.
However, in response to the DCE’s concerns, drivers representing various parts of the district—including Dodowa, Agomeda, and Asutuare—acknowledged falling short of the 15% reduction. They noted, however, that they had implemented some fare decreases, citing specific examples.
“It’s not true that we’re still charging the old fares,” one driver said. “We used to charge GHS 4.50 from here to the Dodowa District Hospital, but we now charge GH¢4. From Dodowa to Accra used to be GH¢16, but it has been reduced to GH¢15. The fare to Ashaiman also used to be GH¢16, but it’s now GH¢15.”
They attributed their inability to meet the full 15% reduction to bad roads and the high cost of spare parts, adding that some drivers were reluctant to travel to certain communities due to poor road conditions.
Another major concern raised by the drivers was the lack of a proper lorry station for them to operate, despite the appreciable tolls paid to the local Assembly.
“The truth is, what we’re charging isn’t ideal, but the GPRTU has no station. We’ve raised several concerns, but to no avail… The tolls we pay would’ve been higher if we had a proper station,” one driver noted.
The absence of a designated station, the drivers added, enables floating drivers to exploit the system by charging unapproved fares. They emphasised that having a station would ensure better regulation of transport fares across the board.
Highlighting the crippling effects of the high cost of spare parts, one driver stressed: “Our major problem now is spare parts.” He explained that the rising cost of vehicle parts was leading to heavy financial losses for drivers.
Despite these concerns, the drivers assured the DCE that they would cons
