‘Order From Above’: Trotro Operators Reply As Commuters Fume Over Fare Hikes Amid Gridlock

Passengers in Accra and other parts of the Greater Accra Region are grappling with a fresh financial burden as commercial drivers and their conductors, locally known as mates, implement arbitrary and, in some cases, exorbitant increases in transport fares.

The hikes, which have not been sanctioned by either the Ministry of Transport or the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), are being justified by operators as a survival response to worsening traffic congestion across the capital.

Yet, for many commuters, the increases feel unjustified, particularly at a time when fuel prices have dropped significantly and the cedi has strengthened against major foreign currencies.

At the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, one of Accra’s busiest transport hubs, the mood is a mix of anger and resignation. Passengers complain that fares have been adjusted without notice, explanation, or any official directive.

One mate on the Dome-bound route told JoyNews on Thursday, January 15, that the fare hikes were not his decision but instructions handed down from above.

“It’s an order from above. Yeah, so whatever the master will say is what we also abide by,” he said, referring to vehicle owners and station masters.

According to drivers and conductors, the primary justification for the increases is the staggering amount of time lost in traffic. A journey from the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange to Dome, which should ideally take about 30 minutes, has turned into a two- to three-hour ordeal.

“Of late, the traffic has been worrying. We could be in the traffic for almost two or three hours. So if we do not increase the price, it goes against us. That is the reason why we are doing that, absolutely nothing else,” another operator explained.

Similar complaints and fare hikes have been reported in Mallam, Kasoa, the central business district, Madina, Lapaz and Ablekuma.

The government has swiftly condemned the unauthorised increases. The Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has urged commuters to resist paying any fare that has not been officially gazetted.

While acknowledging the challenges posed by congestion and operational pressures, he cautioned that unilateral fare hikes undermine the social contract and threaten economic stability.

The GPRTU has officially called for calm but admits that many drivers are operating under severe strain. Local union branches say delays in reviewing the standard fare structure despite rising operational demands are pushing some drivers to take matters into their own hands to avoid total business collapse.

Union leaders argue that without timely engagement and clear directives from the Ministry of Transport, enforcing discipline among drivers, especially those outside the union, remains difficult.

However, claims of unbearable operational costs have been partly challenged by the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association. In a recent briefing, its Chairman, Frank Otchere, revealed that prices of most spare parts have dropped significantly, largely due to the appreciation of the cedi.

“The dollar is down, so there is no reason why we should be raising our prices,” Mr Otchere said, noting that components for private vehicles, including Toyota Vitz cars commonly used by ride-hailing services, have seen notable price reductions.

According to him, the only major exception involves spare parts for Mercedes-Benz Sprinter buses, which dominate public transport. He explained that engines previously sold for GH¢15,000 now go for about GH¢10,000, engine oil has fallen from GH¢600 to GH¢350, and batteries that once sold for GH¢1,700 now cost between GH¢1,000 and GH¢1,002.

Mr Otchere commended the government for stabilising the currency, crediting this for the improved pricing environment. “Prices have dropped, and we have to give credit to the government. They are doing a very good job,” he said.

Amid the growing chaos, the Concerned Drivers Association has intensified pressure on the Ministry of Transport. Its Public Relations Officer, David Agboado, has called for the dismissal of Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe, accusing him of poor leadership and failure to engage key stakeholders.

“The government has to sit up and analyse the situation so that we can solve it amicably. But if I have to speak frankly, the Minister of Transport should not be at post again. The Transport Minister must go,” Mr Agboado told JoyNews.

He contrasted the minister’s performance with what he described as improvements in other sectors, citing the Gold Board, the Ministry of Finance, the Bank of Ghana and the National Petroleum Authority, where fuel prices have reportedly dropped from about GH¢17 to between GH¢10 and GH¢11.

“So what is the Transport Minister doing in his office?” he questioned.

For the average worker commuting from Dome to Accra’s central business district, the impact is severe. With many drivers charging an additional GH¢2.00 to GH¢5.00 above the previous fares, daily transport costs have surged by nearly 30 per cent and up to 50 per cent in some cases.

As the so-called “order from above” continues to dominate operations at bus terminals, pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Transport to move beyond rhetoric and deliver enforcement, engagement, and long-term traffic solutions.

Meanwhile, the GPRTU says it is seeking police and government support to clamp down on unauthorised fare hikes. Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, the Deputy Industrial and Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, stressed that the union can only discipline its members.

“If you are not a member of the union, we don’t have the power to discipline you,” he said, adding that government-led engagement is critical to ensuring compliance.

Mr Amoah further urged drivers operating outside recognised unions to either join existing associations or legally form one to allow for regulation.

“The solution lies with the government, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, and the Road Safety Authority to create clear rules that will control drivers in Ghana,” he said.

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