Commercial drivers in the Adaklu District are defying a nationwide directive to reduce transport fares by 15%, insisting that a drop in fuel prices alone is not enough to warrant the cut.
While the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) instructed all commercial drivers to implement the fare reduction from May 24, a survey by the Ghana News Agency at the bustling Ho Central Market revealed widespread non-compliance among drivers serving the Adaklu route.
Drivers argue that the operational costs of running transport services remain high, with no corresponding reductions in the prices of spare parts, tyres, and government-imposed levies such as the Vehicle Income Tax and DVLA charges.
“Fuel is not the only thing we buy. Tyres and maintenance costs are still high. Until those come down or we get formal notice from our union leaders in Ho, we won’t change the fares,” one driver said.
The resistance has sparked concern among passengers, some of whom have called on local authorities to intervene. One anonymous passenger urged the District Chief Executive to act swiftly to ensure compliance with the directive.
In response, Mr. Mark Dodzi Hoenyekor, Presiding Member of the Adaklu District Assembly and Assemblyman for the Helekpe Electoral Area, stated that the Assembly would soon engage with the transport unions in the district to resolve the standoff.
The situation reflects a growing tension between national transport policy directives and the economic realities facing drivers at the local level, as broader questions about cost structures in the transport sector remain unresolved.
