No plans to reduce fares for ride-hailing users – Ghana Online Drivers Union

If you are a regular user of ride-hailing services like Uber, Bolt, or Yango, and you were hoping that the recent drop in fuel prices and the appreciation of the cedi would lead to cheaper fares, then prepare for disappointment.

According to the Ghana Online Drivers Union, there will be no reduction in fares for these app-based transport services, even though the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) recently announced a 15% reduction in transport fares starting this week.

GPRTU’s Fare Cut Doesn’t Cover Uber, Bolt or Yango

The president of the Ghana Online Drivers Union, Francis Tengey, has come out to set the records straight. He says that the GPRTU’s directive has nothing to do with ride-hailing services, and passengers should not expect their Uber or Bolt prices to go down anytime soon.

“What the GPRTU did does not include us, because we have not been consulted. We are not part of them,” Mr. Tengey said in an interview with Citi FM.

He explained that drivers who use Uber, Bolt, and Yango work under different systems. These platforms set prices using algorithms and are controlled by private tech companies, not local transport unions like GPRTU.

“Uber does not know GPRTU. Bolt and Yango do not know GPRTU. They are not part of that space,” he added.

Ride-Hailing Drivers Were Left Out of the Decision

Francis Tengey said the GPRTU’s 15% fare cut came after meetings with the Ministry of Transport, but unfortunately, drivers under the ride-hailing apps were not part of those talks.

“As unions and representatives of the drivers, we were not part of the meeting that GPRTU and the Ministry of Transport held. We were not represented. So our customers cannot enjoy the 15% reduction on prices,” he explained.

This means that any decisions made at that level do not affect online drivers, and therefore, their passengers will not benefit either.

Ghana Online Drivers Union Is Still Not Recognised

Mr. Tengey went further to explain that since 2021, the Ghana Online Drivers Union has been trying to gain official recognition from the Trades Union Congress (TUC), but the application has not yet been approved.

“We have a union, but our union is not recognised by the GPRTU or the Trade Union. We applied to the TUC in 2021, but we’re still waiting,” he said.

Without this official recognition, the union cannot actively take part in key transport policy decisions or speak directly for drivers on platforms like Uber, Bolt, and Yango.

Calls for Regulation of the Ride-Hailing Sector

The situation has pushed the union to call on the government to regulate the ride-hailing industry properly. According to Mr. Tengey, regulation will bring structure and fairness to the system and ensure that the voices of online drivers are heard.

“We are pleading with the government, through the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Youth and Employment—these two sectors should come together to regulate the sector and recognise the union,” he said.

He believes that once the union is officially recognised, they will have the legal backing to engage companies like Uber and Bolt on pricing, driver welfare, and better terms for both passengers and drivers.

“When they recognise the union, a letter like this [referring to fare changes] will be coming from us,” he concluded.

Consumers Still Expect Cheaper Transport

Meanwhile, the drop in fuel prices has raised public expectations that all transport fares—including those of Uber, Bolt, and Yango—should go down. After weeks of high petrol prices, many Ghanaians have welcomed the recent fuel price reductions, which have brought a bit of relief at the pumps.

According to experts, if the cedi continues to remain strong against the dollar, fuel prices could go even lower. This has sparked debate on whether ride-hailing apps should also reduce their fares to reflect the lower cost of fuel.

But so far, none of the ride-hailing companies has announced any fare cuts. In fact, in many parts of Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, passengers say prices are still high, especially during peak hours when surge pricing kicks in.

CUTS International Calls on Government to Act

At the same time, CUTS International Ghana, a well-known consumer rights organisation, has also added its voice to the ongoing discussion. The group says government must ensure that passengers benefit from the positive changes in fuel prices and the economy.

CUTS is calling on the authorities to give local assemblies the power to deregister and punish drivers who fail to comply with the GPRTU’s fare reduction directive.

“No driver should be allowed to exploit passengers during these times of economic relief,” a CUTS representative said in a press statement.

The group believes that when fuel prices go up, transport operators are quick to increase fares, so the same should apply when fuel prices go down.

What Do Passengers Say?

Many passengers who rely on Bolt, Uber, and Yango for their daily transport say they are frustrated. For some people, the ride-hailing apps used to be cheaper and more comfortable than trotro or taxis, but these days, it’s becoming too expensive.

“I used to pay GH¢15 from Achimota to Circle, but now I pay almost GH¢25,” said a university student.

“Fuel has gone down, so why are the fares still high? Something must be done,” a worker at Adabraka asked.

Others also blame the apps themselves for refusing to reflect fuel price changes in their pricing systems. Some drivers, too, are complaining that the companies take a large percentage of every trip, which affects their income.

The Way Forward

The issue is complex. On one hand, passengers want cheaper fares because fuel prices are down. On the other hand, drivers want to survive in a system where they don’t control the pricing and are not represented at the negotiation table.

Clearly, there is a gap in the system, and unless the government acts quickly to regulate the ride-hailing sector, confusion and frustration will continue to grow.

It is time for the Ministry of Transport and all other relevant stakeholders to engage all sides—GPRTU, TUC, the Online Drivers Union, Uber, Bolt, and Yango—and come up with fair and transparent solutions that work for both drivers and passengers.

Ghanaians are tired of hearing excuses. As the economy begins to show signs of recovery, it is only fair that the average commuter also feels the difference—not just in government statistics but in their daily lives and transport budgets.