KMA Boss Defies Rain, Storms Transport Stations Over Unapproved Fares
The Mayor of Kumasi, Mr Richard Ofori Agyeman Boadi, on Wednesday braved the afternoon downpour to visit transport stations in the metropolis and enforce compliance with approved fares.
The exercise, part of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly’s (KMA) efforts to protect passengers from arbitrary fare increases, took the mayor and his team to Abrepo Junction, Racecourse, Ashtown, Kejetia and Adum.
Mr Boadi, accompanied by officials from the KMA Transport Department and a security task force, stopped loaded commercial vehicles and engaged passengers to ascertain whether they had been charged the approved fares before allowing the vehicles to proceed.
In some instances, the mayor personally loaded vehicles to ensure that drivers complied with the approved fares and transported passengers to their designated destinations.
He also cautioned commercial drivers against operating “short-short” services, which he said disadvantaged passengers by preventing them from travelling to their intended destinations without paying additional fares.
Where drivers attempted to operate such services, the mayor and his team took over the loading of the vehicles and ensured that passengers were conveyed to their approved destinations in accordance with the transport charter of their respective unions.
Mr Boadi further ordered the immediate closure of transport unions operating without the requisite permits, directing them to obtain the necessary documentation before resuming operations.
At Abrepo Junction, the Mayor and his team also engaged traders operating along the road and directed them to vacate the area before Thursday, to facilitate the smooth commencement of the next phase of the Suame Interchange project.
The Mayor called on members of the public to report commercial drivers and transport unions that flouted the directive on approved fares.
He assured the public that the KMA would continue to monitor transport operations across the metropolis to ensure compliance with approved fares and protect commuters from unfair practices.
Thomas Awuah Asem, ISD
KMA
