Commercial transport operators at Jacobu in the Amansie Central District of the Ashanti Region have withdrawn their services indefinitely in protest against the local assembly’s opposition to what it describes as an unapproved transport fare adjustment.
The industrial action, which began on Monday, June 29, 2026, has paralysed transport services in the district, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded at various lorry stations.
The drivers say the fare increment was necessitated by the deplorable state of roads across the district.
According to them, all major roads leading to the district capital, including the Jacobu-Kumasi, Dunkwa and Obuasi stretches, have deteriorated significantly.
They said deep potholes, eroded sections and dusty roads have led to frequent vehicle breakdowns and extensive damage to engines, suspensions and tyres.
The drivers argue that the poor road conditions have forced them to increase fares to offset rising maintenance costs.
However, the Amansie Central District Assembly has rejected the unilateral fare adjustment and directed the police to arrest and prosecute any driver or mate charging unapproved fares.
The directive angered the drivers, who responded by parking their vehicles and displaying red banners in protest.
The action left passengers, including market women, students and traders, stranded for hours.
Kwabena Yaw, a driver at the Jacobu-Kumasi station, defended the strike action.
“This whole issue started because of the fare dispute. The roads, especially the Jacobu to Afoako Junction stretch, are in a very poor state. We increased fares from GH¢8.50 to GH¢10 because repair costs now exceed our weekly earnings. But the Assembly is opposing it and has impounded some of our vehicles. We will not resume work until the roads are fixed and our colleagues’ vehicles are released,” he said.
A taxi driver also justified the increment, pointing to the high fares charged by alternative transport operators.
“Since we halted operations, Okada riders have been charging GH¢30 from Afoako Junction to Jacobu per person. So why should they oppose taxis and commercial vehicles charging GH¢10? This is not our fault; it is because of the bad roads,” he said.
With commercial vehicles off the roads, only motorcycles, popularly known as “Okada”, and tricycles, locally called “Pragya”, are currently operating as the main means of transport to nearby communities.
Commuters say fares for these alternatives have also doubled.
In response, the District Chief Executive for Amansie Central, Emmanuel Obeng Agyemang, confirmed that six taxi drivers had been arrested for charging unapproved fares amid the ongoing strike.
“Following reports of unlawful fare increments, I directed the police to arrest any commercial driver found charging fares that have not been gazetted by the appropriate authority,” he said.
The DCE stated that the suspects would be prosecuted for violating transport regulations.
“We are not against drivers making a living. However, the law is clear. No individual or union can unilaterally increase fares without approval. Those arrested will face the law to serve as a deterrent to others,” he added.
Mr Agyemang said the Assembly is in talks with the Ministry of Roads and Highways to fast-track the rehabilitation of the district’s deteriorated roads.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Odotobri branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Johnson Kwakye Francis, has urged drivers to resume work.
He acknowledged that their concerns over poor roads and rising maintenance costs are legitimate but stressed that no operator should charge unapproved fares until an official nationwide fare adjustment is announced.
“I have directed drivers to return to work, and they must not charge unapproved fares. If any driver insists on charging unauthorised fares, that driver will have to operate outside the lorry station,” he warned.
He added that any driver arrested for violating the directive would bear full responsibility, stressing that the Union would not intervene.
Although he supported the Assembly’s stance against the unilateral fare hikes, he called on the government and the Ministry of Roads and Highways to urgently address the poor road network in the district.
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