The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has raised concerns over the charging of unapproved fares by self-acclaimed loading boys at various bus stations across the country.
Speaking on Orange Sunrise, Deputy Communications Officer of the GPRTU, Mr Samuel Amoah, said the GPRTU had noticed the worrying trend of unknown persons who acted as loading boys to take money from drivers. According to him, this placed an extra burden on drivers and forced them to charge extra fares.
However, he revealed that “the union has been working with the Ghana Police Service to address the issue and ensure that passengers are charged only approved transport fares.”
Mr Amoah, however, expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some police officers in the practice, claiming that “certain officers have been enabling loading boys to charge fares that have not been approved.”
He said, “The situation has created challenges for both passengers and transport operators, stressing the need for effective monitoring and enforcement at various bus stations.”
Mr Amoah further disclosed that the GPRTU, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, is putting measures in place to ensure compliance with the 8% increase in transport fares.
According to him, the measures are intended to regulate fare collection, prevent unauthorised charges and ensure that the approved fares are implemented across transport terminals.
The GPRTU is calling for greater cooperation from transport operators, loading boys and passengers as efforts continue to ensure compliance with the approved fare structure and bring order to fare collection at bus stations.
