In Ghana, fares are rounded up after an 8% increase due to coin shortage — MyJoyOnline

In Ghana, a shortage of coins in circulation is contributing to the rounding up of fares following an approved 8% tariff increase. The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) stated this, MyJoyOnline reports.

Problem with change

GRTCC General Secretary Emmanuel Ohene-Yeboah explained that it is difficult to pay the exact fare in situations where coins are needed for payment. According to him, due to their limited availability, transport operators are forced to round up amounts.

The statement came amid complaints from passengers who said that drivers on certain routes were charging more than the 8% increase provides for. In particular, passengers on a route where the fare previously cost 50 Ghanaian cedis said that after the tariff revision they were paying 55 cedis instead of the 54 cedis that would correspond to an exact 8% increase.

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Fare control

Ohene-Yeboah noted that the council is aware of these complaints and has sent its staff to transport terminals to monitor compliance with fares. According to him, GRTCC representatives work at almost all terminals and can track cases of deviations from the established rates.

The council also provided transport operators with a table of old and new fares, which is intended to help apply the revision. The 8% increase took effect last Saturday after negotiations between transport operators and the Ministry of Transport. Transport operators explained the need for the fare adjustment by rising prices for fuel, spare parts and other operating costs.