Although transport fares are officially set to rise by eight per cent on Saturday, September 26, 2026, commercial transport operators have begun overcharging passengers with increases as high as 25 per cent.
Commuters were expected to pay the approved eight per cent adjustment following successful negotiations between transport operators and the government. The consensus concluded weeks of intense talks between the Ministry of Transport and commercial transport leadership regarding proposed adjustments for the 2026 fare window.
Prior to the agreement, major operator bodies including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) submitted requests for higher fare adjustments, citing rising operational expenses. Transport operators initially pushed for a 30 per cent increase and expressed a willingness to scale down their demand to 25 per cent. However, a joint technical team formed by the Ministry, the GPRTU, and the GRTCC evaluated operational cost components and settled on the eight per cent figure.
Despite this, checks by Rainbowradioonline.com reveal that drivers have already implemented an unauthorized 25 per cent hike across several terminals, including Dansoman, Lapaz, Abeka, and Kwame Nkrumah Circle.
At the Madina Lorry Station in Dansoman, passengers who previously paid GH¢12 are now charged GH¢16. Similarly, commuters travelling from Last Stop to Lapaz now pay GH¢8 instead of GH¢6, while those alighting at the Achimota Overhead are paying GH¢9, up from GH¢7.50.
The illegal implementation has sparked heated arguments and near-physical altercations at various loading points. Commuters insist that any new fares must take effect on Saturday as agreed, but drivers and their conductors remain adamant, refusing to accept the official rates.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
