As the yuletide season draws to a close, some Ghanaians have expressed concerns over transport fares which have relatively increased in the season.
According to consumers, ride-hailing service prices have shot up during the Christmas season.
The festive season is usually marked by skyrocketing transport fares, especially on ride-hailing apps.
Channel One News interacted with passengers and individuals who use these services about the cost of transport fares during the festive season compared to usual days.
On a usual day, ordering a ride from Tesano to Dansoman costs GHS40, however, the story is different within this period, as it now costs between GHS70 and GHS96. Making matters worse is the unpredictability of the prices of some ride-hailing services.
Wiafe, a frequent consumer of ride-hailing services, narrates how a 60-cedi fare rose to 200 cedis.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to be okay with the prices when it’s surging. A trip that costs GHS60 is like 200 now. That I don’t like but what can you do?”
Another consumer shared a similar story. “When you order a ride, it is not the same price as it used to be. There’s been an increase with maybe a GHS 20 or GHS 30 difference. From Accra Mall to Tema is GHS160 but then, they charged GHS180. So I couldn’t order the ride again, I had to cancel it.”
For drivers of these ride-hailing apps, retention of the current pricing will serve as a great initiative.
“I think with Bolt and Uber, it is the best price they have to pay all year long. I don’t know why they take another charge at a time when there is no Christmas.”
Meanwhile, consumers of the public transport service known as ‘trotro’ face similar challenges. Osuman Abdul Karim is the Disciplinary Committee Secretary for the Odona, GPRTU branch, and he blames it on persons who operate without unions.
“The boys at the roadside are the ones who will negotiate because, at this time, it was very difficult to get a vehicle, so they will go and negotiate with the passengers and instead of GHS5, they tell you to pay GHC10 and they will get a car for you. We even went there to sack them,” he stated.
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By Manuel Ayamah
