Ride-hailing passengers hoping for a reduction in fares following the recent drop in fuel prices may have to reconsider their options. The Ghana Online Drivers Union has firmly stated that popular ride-hailing platforms such as Uber, Bolt, and Yango will not be implementing any fare cuts, despite a general reduction in public transport costs.
Background and Context
The announcement follows the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU)’s decision to lower fares by 15%, citing improved exchange rates and declining fuel prices. However, the Online Drivers Union clarified that this directive does not apply to ride-hailing operators, as they were not included in the discussions that led to the fare reduction.
Francis Tengey, President of the Ghana Online Drivers Union, noted that although the union applied for formal affiliation with the Trades Union Congress (TUC) in 2021, it has yet to receive accreditation. This means ride-hailing services are not bound by agreements made between commercial transport unions and regulatory bodies.
Drivers’ perspective
Drivers using ride-hailing apps have long argued that they operate under different pricing structures compared to traditional commercial transport services. Ride-hailing platforms use dynamic pricing models, meaning fares fluctuate based on factors such as demand, distance, and traffic conditions. Unlike public transport unions, decisions on price adjustments are controlled by the companies themselves.
“The cost of operation for ride-hailing drivers is already high, and we don’t have the same negotiation powers as commercial drivers do,” said Tengey in an interview. “Without proper regulation of ride-hailing services, drivers will continue to struggle with unfair pricing policies imposed by these companies.”
Meanwhile, in the Ashanti Region, many commercial drivers have refused to comply with the GPRTU’s directive to reduce fares by 15%. Despite the official announcement, several transport operators in Kumasi and surrounding areas continue to charge the old rates, citing concerns over high spare parts costs and unchanged operational expenses.
Solomon Frimpong, a commercial driver speaking in an interview with Citi news said, “We are waiting for the new fares from our leadership before we can reduce them; until then, we are going by the old fares.”
Some drivers argue that while fuel prices have dropped, other costs such as vehicle maintenance, taxes, and insurance remain high, making it difficult to justify a fare reduction. Others claim they are waiting for further instructions from their leadership before making any adjustments.
John Mensah, another commercial driver, expressed his dissatisfaction with Citi news: “We have reduced our fares, but we are not happy with the new fares because they’re not helping us. The prices of spare parts are still the same, so this reduction is going to affect the drivers.”
The GPRTU has warned that drivers who fail to comply with the directive will face sanctions, including being barred from loading passengers. However, enforcement remains a challenge, as many drivers insist that the fare cut does not reflect the realities of their daily expenses.
Consumer reaction and calls for regulation
The Online Drivers Union’s decision has sparked reactions from passengers, many of whom were expecting fares to drop alongside public transport prices. Some consumers believe that ride-hailing platforms should adjust their pricing policies in response to Ghana’s economic improvements, while others sympathize with drivers who feel overburdened by high commissions and operating costs.
Consumer advocacy group CUTS International has urged the government to intervene, arguing that passengers deserve fair pricing across all transport sectors. The group recommends empowering local assemblies to sanction commercial drivers who fail to comply with public fare adjustments and enforcing clearer pricing regulations for ride-hailing services.
What’s next?
While public transport fares have been reduced, ride-hailing passengers will continue paying current rates unless Uber, Bolt, and Yango revise their pricing policies. For now, drivers remain at the mercy of the companies’ internal algorithms, with little control over fare adjustments.
With ongoing discussions around regulation and fair pricing, stakeholders believe that the ride-hailing industry in Ghana requires greater oversight to ensure both drivers and passengers benefit from economic changes. Whether ride-hailing fares will eventually be reduced remains uncertain, but one thing is clear,passengers looking for cheaper transport options may need to rely on traditional public transit.
