Riders using popular ride-hailing apps like Uber, Bolt, and Yango should not expect any fare reductions, despite the recent rise in the cedi’s value and lower fuel costs.
The Ghana Online Drivers Union clarified that they were not involved in the Ghana Private Road Transport Union’s (GPRTU) decision to cut public transport fares by 15%. Francis Tengey, president of the Online Drivers Union, told Citi Business News that the fare cut does not apply to ride-hailing services because they were excluded from the talks.
“We were not consulted and are not part of the GPRTU. Uber, Bolt, and Yango operate independently and do not recognize GPRTU directives,” Tengey explained. He added that although their union has sought official accreditation since 2021, it remains unrecognized by both GPRTU and the Trade Union Congress.
Tengey urged the government to officially acknowledge the Online Drivers Union and regulate the sector. Doing so, he said, would allow better negotiations with ride-hailing companies to pass on economic benefits to passengers.
Meanwhile, consumer group CUTS International is pressing the government to enforce the 15% fare cut for all public transport operators and empower local authorities to penalize those who refuse to comply, ensuring commuters aren’t shortchanged as the economy improves.
