GPRTU to deploy union guards to stop drivers charging multiple fares on Accra routes

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced plans to deploy union guards and enforcement teams on major roads in Accra to curb the practice of charging multiple fares on a single journey and dropping passengers midway, commonly referred to as short shot and roadside fare collection.

The decision follows a surge in complaints from commuters who say they are left stranded or compelled to pay additional fares after boarding vehicles outside designated terminals, particularly during peak hours.

Speaking in a radio interview on Citi FM on Thursday, January 15, 2026, monitored by Graphic Online, the Deputy Industrial and Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Mr Samuel Amoah, dismissed claims that drivers affiliated with the union were deliberately avoiding terminals to exploit passengers.

He said the union had no incentive to keep vehicles away from stations, noting that drivers are required to pay tolls and union dues when they operate from approved terminals.

Mr Amoah said internal checks by the union indicated that most vehicles involved in roadside fare abuses were not registered with the GPRTU.

“These vehicles that are charging on the roadside and doing approvals are mostly floating vehicles. They do not belong to the union,” he said.

He explained that the union had begun internal mobilisation to confront the problem directly on the streets, including the deployment of union guards and a third-party enforcement team to identify offending vehicles.

“We are organising ourselves to go onto the street with our union guards. If any of our vehicles are found doing this, we will cause the arrest and apply sanctions,” Mr Amoah said, adding that the union faced challenges in dealing with drivers who operate outside its membership.

Mr Amoah also urged passengers to board vehicles only from recognised terminals, stressing that drivers who pick up passengers from official stations are required to complete the full journey for the approved fare.

“When you come to the station and pick a vehicle going to your destination, there is no way the driver will drop you halfway and charge you again,” he said.

He further indicated that the union was dissatisfied with the current state of the transport sector and was scheduled to meet the Minister for Transport by the end of the week to discuss enforcement challenges and broader commuter concerns.

The GPRTU’s announcement comes amid growing pressure on transport operators and regulators to address worsening travel conditions in Accra, where commuters complain of long waiting times and repeated charges on a single trip.

GraphicOnline