Passengers travelling between Agona Nkwanta and Dixcove in the Western Region are expressing frustration over what they describe as exorbitant transport fares being charged by commercial drivers due to the deplorable state of the road network.
Drivers operating on the route have reportedly increased fares in recent weeks, citing the worsening condition of the Agona Nkwanta–Dixcove road, which they say is causing frequent vehicle breakdowns and increasing maintenance costs.
Several commuters who spoke to reporter Ephya Gyambrah complained that the continuous fare increments are taking a toll on their daily lives and businesses.
According to some traders and workers who rely on the route, transport fares have nearly doubled in certain communities, making movement difficult for residents.
“I spend almost all my daily sales on transportation alone. The roads are very bad, but the fares are becoming unbearable,” a trader lamented.
Commercial drivers, however, insist the increments are necessary to keep their businesses running.
One driver at the Agona Nkwanta lorry station explained that the poor nature of the road has significantly affected their vehicles.
“We are not increasing the fares because we want to cheat passengers. The road is destroying our cars every day. Almost every week we are repairing shock absorbers, tyres and other parts,” he said.
Another driver added that fuel consumption has also increased because vehicles are forced to move slowly through pothole-ridden sections of the road.
“If we continue to charge the old fares, we cannot survive. The road from Agona Nkwanta towards Dixcove has become very terrible, especially during the rains,” the driver stressed.
Some drivers further indicated that transport unions have had no option but to adjust fares informally to cushion operators against the rising cost of vehicle maintenance.
Residents and commuters are therefore calling on the government and the Ghana Highway Authority to urgently rehabilitate the stretch to reduce the burden on both drivers and passengers.
They fear that if immediate action is not taken, transport fares could rise even further, worsening the economic hardship faced by people living and working along the corridor.
