File photo of people arrested by police
There have been a series of arrests of commercial transport drivers across the country for charging unapproved fares amid a shortage of buses.
Despite repeated warnings from authorities and transport unions, some drivers have failed to comply with approved fare directives, instead doubling or even tripling fares, leaving stranded commuters with little choices.
This situation has led to the formation of a taskforce by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to clamp down on drivers who engage in fare exploitation.
15 ‘trotro’ drivers overpricing passengers arrested
In January 2026 alone, over 20 arrests have been made, with some offending drivers subjected to punitive measures, including fines.
This GhanaWeb article highlights some of the arrests recorded so far:
15 drivers arrested at Awoshie Market
The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) taskforce arrested 15 trotro drivers over allegations of overcharging passengers.
This followed complaints from commuters who reported being charged excessively during their journeys.
Authorities stated that drivers had exploited passengers by imposing inflated fares without justification.
The drivers were also accused of violating fair-pricing regulations and causing financial harm.
27 drivers at various terminals
27 commercial bus drivers and conductors at various locations in Accra over the last two days, were also arrested for charging unauthorised transport fares.
The operation covered major terminals and transport routes, including Pokuase, Odorkor, Ablekuma, and Kingsway.
Two of the drivers were subsequently discharged after their offences were considered “very lenient,” while the remaining 21 were still in police custody.
16 drivers in Kumasi
16 commercial drivers were arrested, and their vehicles impounded on Monday, January 26, during a joint National Security operation targeting the charging of illegal transport fares in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.
The exercise, conducted in the Sofoline and Santasi areas, also focused on traffic management at major intersections to reduce congestion and improve vehicle flow along the busy corridor.
Driver and mate arrested at Circle
Transport Crisis: Driver and mate arrested for inflated fares
The latest arrest involved a trotro driver and his mate, who were apprehended for overpricing transport fares after charging GH¢20 from Circle to Dome on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
The operation was carried out jointly by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and National Security as part of efforts to enforce approved transport fares and protect commuters.
MAG/AE
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