Commuters Complain of High Transport Fares

Commuters in the Tema municipality have complained about the refusal of drivers to comply with the 40 percent increase in the fares since the fuel prices were increased about two weeks ago.

The drivers, who raised fares by 100 percent, are refusing to adhere to the 40 percent increase sometimes leading to hot exchanges between them and the passengers.

While the taxi fares from Communities One to Two, Five, Seven, Eight, Nine and Newtown was 900 cedis, the taxis charge 1,500 cedis. Trotro fares to Community Two and Newtown have gone up from 500 cedis to 1,220 cedis while from Tema to Ashaiman is now 1,500 cedis, up from 700 cedis.

Mr Frank Dzramado, a journalist who complained to the GNA, said he went to the TMA to report the matter but the Public Relations Officer told him that all such complaints should be directed to the police, and that it is not the responsibility of the assembly to fix lorry fares.

In a related development, drivers plying between Ashaiman near Tema and other communities and towns on Friday embarked on a strike action, complaining that the 40 percent increase in fares is making them to run at a loss.

The drivers did not only park their vehicles but were also preventing others, who wanted to work from doing so, and those who refused to comply were beaten up.

The station manager of Ashaiman lorry park, Mr Eric Tetteh, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that he had to call in the police to stop those striking drivers who were molesting their colleagues for refusing to join them. The police directed that those who wanted to work should come to the lorry station, and those who would not and prefer to go on strike should leave the station.

The strike disrupted commercial activities especially workers going to work, while market women were also stranded.

A number of workers who could afford it went by taxi, costing 4,000 cedis.

The drivers ply Dodowa, Ada, Ningo, Prampram, Madina, Michel Camp, Tema and Accra.