The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has voiced concerns about the rising cost of transport fares in Ghana, as commercial drivers push for fare hikes due to escalating fuel prices and increased vehicle maintenance costs.
To address these issues, a crucial meeting with key stakeholders, including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Drivers Association, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 11. The discussions are expected to focus on reaching an agreement on fare adjustments.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Minister Nikpe said, “Unofficially, I have engaged them. Tomorrow, we will be engaging them too.” This follows a recent nationwide tour where he met with the media to discuss ongoing transport challenges.
In addition to the issue of fare increases, the Minister has raised concerns about the role of middlemen, or “goro” boys, who interfere with the DVLA registration process. These individuals are often accused of causing delays for applicants who follow official procedures.
“We want to ensure that we do not have any connecting persons within DVLA, but that we should have tech to improve service for the people,” Mr Nikpe said.
In response, some applicants have pledged to cease using these intermediaries’ services.
As part of efforts to improve service delivery, the Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, announced plans to introduce 24-hour operations at DVLA offices as part of the government’s wider 24-hour economy initiative. “For DVLA, this is just a start. Any other service we render to the people would be on a 24-hour basis,” he said.
The Transport Minister also urged DVLA staff to adopt a more positive attitude to ensure smoother operations and improved service for the public.
The upcoming stakeholder meeting is expected to play a key role in shaping the future of transport fares in the country.
