The current economic crisis has had a ripple effect on commodities, goods, and services.

Passengers in the Ashanti Region have registered their displeasure over the indiscriminate transport fares increment.

Passengers traveling from Kumasi to Accra, Takoradi, Sunyani, and other parts of the country pleaded with the government to have a positive talk with the transport owners to reduce the fares.

Checks by Sompa news across the Ashanti Region in the various transport terminals indicate that drivers and conductors are involved in a serious altercation with passengers over the right percentage of increase of the fares. 

Sompa correspondence, Eric Murphy reports that various transport terminals have increased the transport fare by 20% instead of the agreed 19% between the government and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).

According to him, the agreed transport fares are to be effected from the 29th of October; however, drivers and conductors have affected the change from the 25th of October resulting in a serious altercation between drivers and passengers.

Passengers who ply within the Kumasi metropolis are hit by 60 pesewas and ¢1 increment depending destination, meanwhile the Initial fare for VIP from Kumasi-Accra, Kumasi-Takoradi was ¢80 and now at ¢100 whereas the mini busses which used to be ¢70 and now go for ¢90.

Passengers have said combining the current economic hardship with that of the transport fares is a big slap and have pleaded with the government to as a matter of urgency address the challenges.

Credit: Eric Murphy Asare