Akyem Oda commercial drivers raise fares arbitrarily amid commuter concerns

Travellers in Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region are facing increased transportation costs following an upward adjustment in fares by commercial drivers operating on several routes.

The situation became tense last Monday morning when taxi drivers temporarily withdrew their services, leaving many commuters with no option but to walk considerable distances to their workplaces.

By the afternoon, however, the drivers had resumed operations with increased fares, leaving passengers with little choice but to pay the new rates.

On the Oda–Accra route, small buses now charge GH¢75 per passenger, up from GH¢70, while fares for big buses have gone up from GH¢65 to GH¢70.

Passengers travelling from Oda to Kumasi are now paying GH¢80 instead of GH¢70, while those using the Oda–Mankessim route are being charged GH¢50, compared with the previous GH¢45.

Taxi fares have also been adjusted on a number of routes. Travellers from Oda to Akyem Achiase now pay GH¢10 instead of GH¢8, while the fare for the Oda–Akyem Manso route has increased from GH¢10 to GH¢13.

Within Oda township, taxi fares have risen from GH¢4 to GH¢5 per passenger. The Oda–Akyem Asene fare has also gone up from GH¢5 to GH¢6, while passengers travelling to Akyem Aboabo now pay GH¢5 instead of GH¢4.

A leading member of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Samuel Nana Kwasi Addo, popularly known as Nana Addo, said the increases were driven by rising operating costs.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic on behalf of the drivers, he cited frequent increases in petroleum products, lubricants, spare parts and tyres, as well as the poor condition of roads in the area, as factors contributing to the new fares.

However, when asked why the drivers had proceeded with the increases without waiting for an official directive from the National GPRTU Secretariat, Nana Addo said commercial drivers operating on the Accra–Oda route had already increased their fares more than two months ago.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Oda Taxi Drivers Union, Oheneba Siaw, also known as Dwen, declined to comment when contacted about the increase in taxi fares.