A number of transport operators continue to charge commuters old fares, thereby defying the recent directive to decrease fares.

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Wednesday, May 21, announced a 15% drop in transport fares, which took effect on Saturday, May 24.

According to GPRTU, the reduction follows successful deliberations between the Ministry of Transport and transport operators following the recent macroeconomic developments, specifically the Ghanaian cedi experiencing sustained appreciation against major foreign trading currencies, particularly the dollar.

Some Ghanaians have taken it upon themselves to expose the drivers and bus conductors who continue to rob commuters of hard-earned money.

Transport stations and branches that have refused to comply with the recent directive on the 15% fare reduction by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) are liable to sanctions by the union.

In an interview with Citi News on Saturday, May 24, the General Secretary of GPRTU, Godfred Abulbire, said, “the chairman has forwarded another press release and made it known that by tomorrow, if stations or branches working under us don’t comply with the directives, sanctions will be meted out to those terminals.

Some transport operators in the Ashanti Region have refused to adhere to the recent directive that seeks to provide some economic relief to commuters. They have attributed the delay in adjusting fares to the late receipt of the official instruction.

But the General Secretary of GPRTU has indicated that the communique has been reissued and assured that measures have been put in place to ensure full compliance in the coming days.

Other transport operators in the Volta Region are working with a 10 percent reduction in transport fares, citing the spiking prices of spare parts and the failure of the authorities to see to a reduction.

A section of spare parts dealers at Abossey Okai has insisted on not reducing the prices of their items, despite the value of the Ghanaian cedi gaining strength against the U.S dollar. This comes after the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association in the Greater Accra Region directed its members to reduce prices of spare parts.

A dealer who engaged the media said, “For now, maybe it can’t be possible because we ordered the goods at a certain rate, which is higher than what we are seeing now. With that price we have to sell, and when the goods finish and you are ordering another one with a reduced [exchange] rate, then definitely the prices will come down.”

The cedi has appreciated sharply by nearly 19 percent between April and May, helping to ease imported inflation pressures and restore public confidence.

The average interbank rates used by commercial banks for transactions at the close of business, May 23, show the US dollar buying at GH₵11.62 and selling at GH₵11.63. The British pound is buying at GH₵15.60 and selling at GH₵15.62. The euro is currently being bought at GH₵13.11 and sold at GH₵13.12.

Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has insisted that the cedi appreciating against the dollar is due to the National Democratic Congress' (NDC) deliberate policies.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 20, Sammy Gyamfi outlined a stringent monetary policy stance, fiscal consolidation by the Ministry of Finance, and robust forex inflows and accelerated foreign reserve accumulation as factors influencing the cedi's stability.

His remark was a response to a recent statement by former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. Speaking at an event, Dr. Bawumia emphasized that the NDC administration's policies are not influencing the cedi positively.