Commuters Alarmed Over Arbitrary Lorry Fare Hikes On Kumasi-Bibiani Route

Residents along the Kumasi-Bibiani road are voicing their concerns over sudden and unjustified increases in lorry fares. Commercial drivers, particularly sprinter operators, have raised fares by GHS 5.00, citing a directive from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to reduce seating capacity from five to four per row. This move has sparked widespread discontent among commuters.

Unfair Fare Hikes

The fare hike has been described as blanket and exploitative. For instance, the fare from Nyinahin to Abuakwa has jumped from GHS 17.00-GHS18.00 to GHS 25.00.

Commuters argue that this increase is unwarranted and burdensome, especially for those who rely on public transport for their daily commutes.

Call for Intervention

Concerned citizens have appealed to the Ashanti Regional Minister and the Mayor of Kumasi to intervene in the matter.

They urge the authorities to investigate the fare hikes and ensure that any adjustments are fair and officially approved.

They also want the authorities to engage with transport operators to prevent arbitrary fare increases.

Also, Provide clear communication to the public on any changes in transportation fare policies.

Need for Swift Action

The situation has raised concerns about public trust in transport regulation and governance structures. If left unaddressed, it may have political consequences and further erode confidence in the current administration.

The call for swift intervention aims to restore fairness, public confidence, and order in the transportation sector.

Read the full statement below:

To:
Hon. Dr. Frank Amoakohene
Ashanti Regional Minister
Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council
Kumasi, Ghana

Cc:
Hon. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi
Mayor of Kumasi
Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly

Subject: Urgent Concern Over Arbitrary Increments in Lorry Fares on the Kumasi–Bibiani Route

Dear Hon. Dr. Amoakohene and Hon. Mayor Samuel Pyne,

I write to you as a concerned citizen residing along the Kumasi–Bibiani road, specifically from Nyinahin-Serebuoso, to draw your attention to a worrying development that is affecting commuters daily and generating widespread discontent.

It has come to our notice that commercial drivers, particularly sprinter operators, have arbitrarily increased lorry fares under the justification that the DVLA has mandated a reduction in the number of seats in their vehicles—from five to four per row. As a result, an amount of GHS 5.00 has been added to the fares regardless of where a passenger is alighting. This blanket increase is both unfair and exploitative.

To illustrate, prior to the latest fare adjustment:
• The fare from Nyinahin to Abuakwa was around GHS 20.00.
• After the official fare reduction, it dropped to GHS 17.00 – GHS 18.00, depending on the mate.
• As of yesterday, this same stretch now costs GHS 25.00—a drastic and unjustified hike.

We fully understand the need for safety regulations and commend the DVLA’s efforts in that regard. However, these should not become grounds for indiscriminate fare increases that burden already struggling citizens. The current situation is not only economically harsh on commuters but is also gradually eroding public trust in transport regulation and governance structures. It reflects poorly on the current administration and may have political consequences if not urgently addressed.

We humbly call upon your good offices, in collaboration with the DVLA and relevant transport unions, to:
1. Investigate and regulate the fare hikes.
2. Engage with the transport operators to ensure fare adjustments are fair, transparent, and officially approved.
3. Provide a clear communication to the public on any changes in transportation fare policies.

We trust in your leadership and respectfully appeal for swift intervention to restore fairness, public confidence, and order.

Thank you for your attention.

Yours sincerely,
Ibrahim Zakari
Concerned Citizen
Nyinahin-Serebuoso

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