The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has threatened to revoke the operational permits of transport station executives and prosecute recalcitrant drivers who fail to comply with officially approved public transport fares within the metropolis.
Randy Wilson, Head of Transport Department at KMA, in an interview with Kumasi FM’s Elisha Adarkwah, cautioned that station executives who fail to ensure drivers charge approved rates risk losing their permits to other willing operators.
This warning follows drivers unilaterally increasing fares and parking their vehicles in protest over rising operational costs, including fuel and spare parts.
Mr Wilson emphasised that transport operators cannot independently adjust fares without a consensus reached at the national level.
”It is not the Assembly that does it. It is not the transport operators alone that do it. It is done by the Ministry of Transport, the transport operators, the Transport Coordinating Council, and a couple of other stakeholders who come together to meet and fix the lorry fares,” he stated.
“Until that is done, none of the parties involved can decide to fix the fare,” he added.
He clarified that once a percentage adjustment is determined by national stakeholders, the decision is communicated to local assemblies, adding that assemblies then calculate distance-specific rates and distribute the approved fare structures to transport operators.
To curb ongoing violations, the KMA earlier issued a press release and commenced public education campaigns.
Mr Wilson stated that a full-scale enforcement drive is pending final clearance from higher authorities.
Unlike previous exercises where impounded vehicles were released within hours, he said the General Assembly has drafted tougher measures, explaining that under the prospective guidelines, offending vehicles will be impounded for up to a week, from Monday to Friday, and owners will incur heavy fines alongside potential prosecution.
He reiterated that all public transport vehicles must belong to a recognised union, operate strictly from designated terminals, display assembly stickers, and feature destination indicators.
He also cautioned passengers against boarding vehicles at unauthorised loading points, such as roadside spots near the Kejetia Market, where “floating” or illegal operators frequently charge exorbitant rates above official limits.
He urged transport unions to channel grievances regarding rising operational costs through their regional and national executives rather than taking unilateral action that destabilises public transit.
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