Transport Minister warns commercial drivers over rush-hour fare abuse

The Minister of Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe says commercial drivers who operate outside recognised transport unions risk sanctions or a ban. He said a task force report due on Saturday will guide the next steps.

In a radio interview with Accra based Joy FM on Thursday [December 11, 2025], Mr Nikpe said the ministry’s emergency deployment of buses on four major Accra routes was reaching only a small number of commuters during the evening rush hour. He described the buses as an interim measure.

He said the ministry would act on the findings of the task force and that “these task forces, when they come out with their report, we either will sanction or ban vehicles that are not registered with unions and are operating on their own.” 

“You have no right to be a public transport operator without belonging to a union,” he said.

Under the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (Legislative Instrument 2180), specifically Regulation 121(2), commercial vehicle drivers are required to belong to a recognised transport organisation in order to operate legally.

This regulation, made under the authority of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), makes union or association affiliation a condition for obtaining and maintaining a commercial driving license. In that narrow legal context, membership is not voluntary but a regulatory requirement for those who wish to operate in the commercial transport sector.

However, the Constitution grants every individual the freedom to join or abstain from joining any association, including trade unions. 

When questioned about the effectiveness of the emergency measure, Mr Nikpe said the deployment was conveying “over 400 commuters to their homes safely” during the four-hour peak period between 4 pm and 8 pm.