The Security Taskforce of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has impounded thirty commercial minibuses, popularly known as trotros, for charging unapproved fares at night in Kumasi. The enforcement operation was carried out on Sunday night at Santasi following numerous public complaints about the arbitrary fare increases imposed by some commercial drivers during late hours.
Many passengers had expressed frustration over the sharp rise in fares during the evenings, with drivers allegedly charging as high as GH₵10 for the Santasi to Ahenema Kokobeng route, instead of the approved GH₵3. The situation, according to residents, had become a major burden for low-income earners and students who rely heavily on public transport.
The leader of the taskforce, Sergeant Sampson Dadzie, confirmed the arrests and emphasized that the KMA will not tolerate any form of exploitation against commuters. He stated that all thirty arrested drivers will be processed for court to face prosecution. Sergeant Dadzie warned that the Assembly’s enforcement exercise will continue until commercial drivers adhere strictly to the approved fares.
“We will sanitize the system until the drivers do the right thing,” he said. “This is a strong warning to all drivers—any individual found charging unapproved fares will be arrested and made to face the law.”
Some passengers who spoke to OTEC News Reporter Kwame Agyenim Boateng commended the KMA taskforce for its decisive action, saying the operation has brought relief to many who had suffered unfair treatment at the hands of certain drivers. They noted that the night operations were the worst, as drivers took advantage of reduced vehicle availability to impose arbitrary charges.
A commuter expressed appreciation for the intervention, saying it was timely and necessary to protect the public from exploitation. Another passenger described the taskforce’s move as a step in the right direction to restore sanity in the city’s transport system.
The KMA has assured the public that similar exercises will be extended to other major terminals and communities within the Kumasi metropolis, including Adum, Bantama, Asokwa, and Suame. The Assembly urged passengers to report cases of fare manipulation to its offices or nearby police stations to aid in maintaining order and fairness in public transport operations.
The crackdown forms part of KMA’s renewed efforts to regulate transport activities, protect commuters, and promote discipline within the Kumasi transport sector.
