Six commercial drivers were arrested on Wednesday evening when the Mayor of Accra, Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, led a taskforce operation to check drivers charging unapproved transport fares and enforce compliance with approved rates across parts of the metropolis.
The operation, which began around 5:30 p.m., moved from the COCOBOD section of the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue in Accra’s Central Business District through to the Farisco traffic light, where passenger activity was intense due to peak-hour traffic and the high volume of commuters boarding vehicles to destinations including Kaneshie, Awoshie, Kasoa and Lapaz.
During the exercise, the Mayor and the team walked through heavy traffic, stopping trotros and other commercial vehicles to enquire from drivers how much they were charging and cross-checking the figures with passengers onboard to confirm whether the fares matched the approved rates.
The checks, according to the taskforce, revealed mixed compliance, with some drivers charging the approved fares while others demanded slightly higher amounts, leading to the arrest of six drivers for charging unapproved fares.
The six drivers were later cautioned and pardoned by the Mayor, who explained that it was the first day of the enforcement operation and that the exercise was intended to serve as a firm warning ahead of intensified monitoring and stricter action in subsequent rounds.
At one point during the operation, the Mayor paid the full lorry fares for all passengers in a bus headed to Lapaz, a gesture witnesses said eased the burden on commuters and reinforced the Assembly’s message that passengers should not be compelled to pay more than the approved amounts.
In a media interaction during the operation, which ended around 9:30 p.m., the Mayor said the enforcement would continue and be intensified across the metropolis, explaining that the city could not allow a situation where commuters were exploited through arbitrary fare hikes, particularly during peak periods.
He indicated that sustained enforcement was necessary to ensure fairness in public transport pricing, maintain order at lorry stations and along key corridors, and deter drivers who took advantage of traffic and high demand to charge beyond approved fares.
He assured that the Assembly and its partners would keep monitoring compliance and take action against offenders, adding that passenger verification would remain part of the strategy to help confirm what drivers were charging on the ground.
The Mayor also cautioned both drivers and traders against practices that undermined public order, stressing that the Assembly would apply the law to protect road users and maintain discipline in commercial areas, as the taskforce maintained a visible presence along the corridor amid dense commuter traffic.
