The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has caused the arrest of fifteen commercial drivers, popularly known as trotro drivers, at Ablekuma in Accra, for allegedly charging passengers multiple fares.
The arrests, which occurred around 10:00 a.m.yesterday were initiated by the GPRTU, following complaints that some drivers and their mates were fleecing commuters by splitting approved routes into shorter trips and charging fares multiple times.
According to the GPRTU task force, the operation is part of broader measures aimed at addressing persistent transport challenges and improving discipline within Accra’s public transport system.
The union has announced plans to extend similar operations to Odorkor, Circle, and other transport terminals across the city.
Over the years, trotro drivers have subjected Ghanaian commuters to various forms of malpractice, under the watch of authorities. The most noticeable include splitting fares, charging unapproved rates, and deliberately creating artificial shortages of vehicles, particularly during peak hours.
These recurring challenges have sparked a national debate about the urgent need for the government to modernize Ghana’s public transport system, which remains largely unstructured and lacking a scientific, data-driven approach.
It is worth noting that about 90 percent of trotro vehicles are actually cargo vans retrofitted with improvised passenger seats. These unscientific modifications leave commuters cramped, barely able to stretch their legs, as drivers sit on seats that are safe or comfortable, often under the watchful eyes of both the police and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
Speaking to journalists, the National Guards Commander of the GPRTU, Derumond Ekow Gaise, said the arrests mark the beginning of tougher steps to clamp down on illegal practices by drivers.
“For instance, a driver who is supposed to go from Ablekuma to Kaneshie will tell passengers he is going to Awoshie, drop them there, and then charge them again to continue the same journey. These are the ‘short-short’ operations we are arresting,” he explained.
Mr. Gaise added that drivers who charge fares above approved rates are also being targeted.“We are still on the lookout for those who overcharge. When we get them, we will deal with them. We are appealing to the police to take these cases to court so that when people see it on the media, it will serve as a deterrent,” he stated.
He expressed optimism that prosecuting offending drivers would help curb indiscipline within the transport sector.
However, some of the arrested drivers have expressed concern over what they described as an unjustified arrest. Speaking to the media on condition of anonymity, one driver denied engaging in multiple fare charging.
“I have not charged anyone double fare. I charged the normal fare. I told them I was going to Odokor, and when I got there, I turned back to Pokuase. I didn’t go further to Kaneshie,” he said.
Sharing the challenges drivers face daily, the aggrieved driver disclosed that drivers are required to make daily sales of about GH¢600, while gross daily takings could reach between GH¢1,000 and GH¢1,004.
“When you load from Ablekuma to Lapaz, what you get per passenger is about six or seven cedis,” he said, adding that daily ticket payments often cost 30 to 40 cedis before completing their trips.
When asked whether these pressures justify unfair treatment of commuters, the driver responded in the negative. Reacting to the possibility of appearing before court, he said he did not understand why he had been arrested.“That one, I don’t understand,” he said.
Meanwhile, the GPRTU task force continued its operations across the city, with further arrests expected at Circle and other locations as part of efforts to deter indiscipline among commercial drivers.
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The post GPRTU Throws A Fit! …Arrests 15 Drivers For Charging Multiple Fares appeared first on The Ghanaian Chronicle.
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