Commercial vehicle operators who charge above approved fares will be prosecuted, the Police have warned.

The Police said drivers who deliberately charged passengers fares above the approved rates gazetted by the Ministry of Transport and other relevant stakeholders risked legal action, particularly where there was evidence of repeated violations.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Alexander Kweku Obeng, Director of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), said commercial drivers were required to adhere to the approved fares and should not exploit commuters for personal gain.

He said the prosecution formed part of measures to strengthen compliance with road traffic regulations and protect passengers from unfair practices in the commercial transport sector.

The warning comes amid recurring complaints from commuters about arbitrary fare increases, particularly during periods of fuel price adjustments, vehicle shortages, heavy traffic and increased demand for public transport.

In some instances, passengers have complained of being charged fares different from the officially approved rates or being asked to pay additional amounts after boarding vehicles.

ACP Obeng cautioned commercial drivers against such practices, saying approved fares were not optional and must be respected by operators.

He urged drivers to see compliance not merely as a legal obligation but as part of their responsibility to the travelling public.

“Don’t cheat commuters and passengers. Accept the right, agreed fare as gazetted,” he said.

He said enforcement of road traffic regulations would not only focus on conventional road offences but would also address conduct that affected the rights and safety of commuters.

The MTTD Director urged drivers to desist from exploiting passengers and operate strictly within the fares agreed upon by the relevant authorities.

“Don’t come on the road and do short-short, and then start putting unfair fares on potential passengers,” he cautioned.

ACP Obeng said drivers who repeatedly violated the approved fare regime could be taken to court.

He also urged passengers to familiarise themselves with the approved fares and report suspected cases of overcharging to the appropriate authorities.

He said public cooperation was essential to effective enforcement because passengers were often the first to identify cases where drivers charged fares outside the approved rates.

ACP Obeng said the broader objective was to promote fairness and discipline within the commercial transport sector while protecting commuters from practices that placed an unnecessary financial burden on them.

He said the Police would continue to collaborate with relevant institutions to enforce road traffic regulations and ensure that commercial transport operators operated within the law. –GNA

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) has called for strict measures to curb the growing indiscipline, violence and sexual assault in some Senior High Schools (SHSs).

The church warned that the recurring trend threatens the quality of education and the development of responsible young people.

The call was made in a communiqué issued at the end of its 26th General Assembly, held virtually from July 31 to August 11, 2026, and in person from August 12 to 16 at the Ramseyer Training Centre, Abetifi-Kwahu.

The Assembly was held under the theme, “celebrating our heritage: Building on the foundation already laid,” based on 1 Corinthians 3:11.

The theme, the communiqué said, was intended to remind Presbyterians of God’s faithfulness throughout the Church’s 198-year history while encouraging members to remain committed to its mission.

According to the church, reports of attacks on teachers, violence and sexual assault among students were worrying signs of a broader culture of indiscipline in the country which required urgent attention from all stakeholders.

It therefore urged the government to expedite action on the revised partnership agreement between the State and mission institutions to strengthen collaboration in the delivery of quality education.

The Assembly said the realities of the present time made collaboration between the State and faith-based institutions essential to achieving sustainable educational outcomes.

It stressed that mission institutions should not be relegated to the background, noting that both the State and the church had important roles to play in providing holistic quality education.

The church further called for a national conversation on disciplinary measures in schools to ensure that young people were properly trained to become responsible adults.

According to the PCG, the rising incidents of violence and attacks on teachers in some SHSs reflected “a deeper systemic failure” and were an offshoot of the general indiscipline among the Ghanaian populace.

The PCG also welcomed the ban on extravagant SHS graduation celebrations and urged parents, schools and society to support the promotion of modesty and humility among young people.

As the PCG prepares towards its bicentenary in 2028, the Church said it would continue to draw strength from its heritage and build on the foundation laid by Christ and its forebears.

It reaffirmed Christ as the “unshakable, eternal foundation” of the Church and pledged to preserve its legacy while continuing to proclaim the Gospel.

The Assembly also reaffirmed the PCG’s commitment to working with the government, traditional authorities and other stakeholders to ensure that Ghana remained a peaceful, just and prosperous nation for present and future generations.

By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu