News
Police to prosecute commercial drivers for overcharging passengers
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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 Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has announced plans to introduce a new Bill to strengthen the legal framework for the discipline of lawyers in Ghana.
In an address read on his behalf by the Deputy Attorney-General at the opening of the 2026 Conference of the Ghana Bar Association, Dr. Ayine disclosed that the Bill is headed to Cabinet for review and approval before being laid before Parliament.
The proposed law, to be called the Legal Profession (Practitioners Standards Board) Bill, is expected to transform and strengthen the regulatory framework for disciplining lawyers to safeguard the rights of practitioners and promote public confidence in the profession.
According to the Attorney-General, when passed, the Bill will establish an independent Disciplinary Committee with clear rules of procedure and proposals on proportionate sanctions.
He explained that this marks a progressive departure from the existing framework where the Disciplinary Committee both investigates and adjudicates complaints. The Bill also proposes clear and strict procedural timelines for resolving grievances to avert prolonged deliberations that frustrate both clients and lawyers.
Secondly, Dr. Ayine noted that under the current framework, Superior Court judges sit on the Disciplinary Committee whose decisions, as quasi-judicial decisions, are subject to reviews and appeals in the same courts where these judges preside.
The new Bill seeks to eliminate this conflict of interest by creating a separately constituted Board composed of lay non-lawyers and professional representatives with guaranteed tenure.
The Attorney-General added that the Bill seeks to separate professional discipline from executive, judicial or competitive interference to ensure that disciplinary mechanisms are not weaponized against lawyers by clients, the Bench, or the State.
The introduction of the new law forms part of efforts by the Attorney-General to introduce reforms into the legal profession aimed at revolutionizing legal practice and training. It follows the passage of the Legal Education Act, 2026, which is currently at the implementation stage.
News
Gov’t did not approve market near school — Stan Dogbe clears air on Ahafo Ano South market siting
Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Xoese Dogbe has reacted to a viral video raising concerns about the siting of a market close to a school in the Ahafo Ano South District of the Ashanti Region.
In a post responding to the video, Mr. Dogbe said he has been in contact with the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, who he said is on top of the situation and has long since halted the construction process.
According to him, the decision to designate the said land near the school for the market was not a government decision.
“Once the development was brought to the RCC’s attention, the regional minister immediately asked that the process be stopped,” he stated.
Mr. Dogbe explained that the community currently has no available land space for the construction of the model market, which necessitated their choice of the location near the school.
He noted however that the community has been asked to find another, more suitable piece of land for the project to commence.
“We thank all for the interest in developmental issues in our communities,” he added.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
