In a move to protect commuters from unfair transport practices, the Mayor of Kumasi, Richard Ofori-Agyeman Boadi, personally supervised bus loading at several lorry stations in the city. The exercise, which took place at Kejetia, Adum, Abrepo Junction, Racecourse, and Ashtown, was aimed at ensuring that drivers were charging the approved fares. The Mayor was accompanied by officials from the Transport Department and a security task force.
During the exercise, the team flagged down loaded commercial vehicles and spoke directly to passengers to confirm whether drivers had charged the approved fares. At some stations, the Mayor took over the actual loading of vehicles himself, ensuring drivers complied with approved charges and carried passengers all the way to their stated destinations. This hands-on approach was intended to prevent drivers from overcharging passengers and to ensure that they adhered to the transport arrangements and operational rules set by their respective unions.
The Mayor warned drivers against a practice commonly known as "short-short," in which passengers are dropped before reaching their actual destination and then asked to pay extra to continue their trip. He described this practice as unfair to commuters and urged drivers to stick to the approved fares. The Mayor also ordered the immediate closure of transport unions operating without the required permits, directing them to regularise their documentation before resuming business.
The crackdown comes against the backdrop of a separate, nationwide inter-city fare adjustment that took effect on September 26, 2026. The adjustment raised transport fares across 56 fare zones by amounts ranging from GH₵27 to GH₵324. However, the fares being enforced by the KMA are for intra-city routes within Kumasi, which are distinct from the inter-city routes. The Mayor appealed to members of the public to report drivers and unions who fail to charge approved fares.
For the thousands of Kumasi residents who depend on trotros and taxis daily, even small overcharges add up quickly, especially for those making multiple trips to work, school, or market each day. The Mayor assured residents that the Assembly would keep monitoring transport operations across the metropolis to protect commuters from unfair practices. The exercise was a collaborative effort between the KMA, Transport Department, and security agencies.
The KMA is the local government authority responsible for administering Kumasi, including oversight of transport terminals and public order within the metropolis. The Mayor's assurance suggests that monitoring will continue rather than end as a one-off operation. However, it remains unclear how KMA plans to handle repeat offenders beyond closing unregistered unions, and whether penalties such as fines or licence suspensions will follow for drivers caught overcharging.
The enforcement exercise was reported by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), which provided details of the Mayor's activities at the lorry stations. The GNA report did not specify how long the enforcement exercise will run or whether it will be repeated on a regular schedule. The Mayor's office has not released further details on the penalties for drivers and unions found to be engaging in fare cheating.
Key points
- The Kumasi Mayor's office led a crackdown on fare cheating at lorry stations in the city.
- The exercise aimed to prevent drivers from overcharging passengers and to ensure that they adhered to approved fares.
- The Mayor warned drivers against the "short-short" practice and ordered the closure of transport unions operating without permits.
