The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has announced a crackdown on commercial transport operators charging unapproved fares in the metropolis. The warning was issued during an engagement with leaders of 24 registered transport unions to discuss ways to make transportation in Kumasi safer and more organised. The meeting focused on traffic congestion, terminal management, and enforcement of transport regulations. KMA's Transport Department Head, Randy Wilson, emphasized that charging fares outside approved rates is a punishable offence.
According to Randy Wilson, the old regime of merely impounding offending vehicles and fining them is over. Instead, drivers and vehicle owners who charge unapproved fares will face prosecution and public naming. Wilson stressed that the Assembly will no longer be lenient, and offenders will be prosecuted and their names published to serve as a deterrent. The move is part of KMA's preparations for the Christmas season, which typically sees an increase in transportation demand.
Randy Wilson also directed transport unions and routes that had unilaterally increased fares before the official 8% increment to revert to the old fares. He explained that the approved 8% increment must be calculated on the existing, approved fare, not on illegally adjusted fares. Wilson warned that KMA task forces will be deployed to monitor compliance, and any driver found culpable will have their vehicle arrested and prosecuted.
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Progressive Transport Owners' Association (PROTOA), Joseph Mensah, expressed full support for KMA's initiative. He blamed unregulated 'trotro' operators for charging unapproved fares and short-short loading, where passengers pay multiple fares for short distances. Mensah cited Regulation 146 of Ghana's Road Traffic Regulations, which requires commercial drivers and operators to belong to a recognised transport union.
Joseph Mensah called on KMA to issue official stickers to registered commercial vehicles whose drivers belong to recognised unions. This, he believes, will help expose unregulated 'trotro' operators charging unapproved fares. The sticker system, Mensah noted, will make enforcement easier and protect passengers from exploitation. He emphasized that the activities of unregulated operators tarnish the image of law-abiding transport unions.
The Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), Kwasi Agyenim Boateng, urged operators to prioritize compliance with road safety regulations to save lives. He noted that a safer and more efficient transport system requires collective effort. Speaking on behalf of the mayor, the Metro Coordinating Director, Francis Dwira Darko, emphasized the importance of continuous engagement with transport operators to identify challenges and find practical solutions.
KMA's commitment to working with stakeholders to improve mobility and enhance commuters' daily experiences was reaffirmed by Francis Dwira Darko. The Assembly's efforts aim to create a more organised and efficient transport system in Kumasi, particularly during the Christmas season. The engagement with transport unions is part of KMA's quarterly engagements to address challenges and find solutions.
Key points
- KMA to prosecute and publicly name drivers and vehicle owners who charge unapproved fares.
- Transport unions that increased fares before the official 8% increment must revert to old fares.
- KMA to issue official stickers to registered commercial vehicles to expose unregulated operators.
