Leadership of the Ashanti Region Online Drivers Union (ARODU) has announced an upward adjustment in fares for ride-hailing services following unsuccessful negotiations with app firms to increase sales commissions.

The group cites fuel price hikes and the growing burden of vehicle maintenance costs for the new prices.

The directive, contained in a press release, came into effect on August 5.

Chairman of the Union, Isaac Baffour Boateng justified the decision, highlighting the financial strain on drivers and their daily struggles.

He noted that the fare increase aims to offset these rising costs while improving service quality and enhancing the customer experience.

Mr. Boateng was speaking at the launch of the 2024 MTN MoMo Month in Kumasi.

“We have had a couple of engagement with them [App Companies] but we have come out with some replies they sent us…and we cannot sit aloof as union executives.

"These companies are taking a whopping twenty-five per cent from our sales. This is before you can make sales as a driver at the end of the week. So you are affected at the end,” Boateng said.

He indicated that trips with bonuses and fares below twenty cedis will not be accepted by drivers under the union.

“So, we have decided from the onset that trips that are GHC20, we are not going to take any bonuses. Assuming the trip is GHC20, and the App company gives you GHC5 as bonus, the driver will not accept that. We will take the GHC20 fully. And if the trip is below GHC20, the driver will take GHC20 from you. And because we don’t want any scuffle between drivers and passengers, drivers have been encouraged to inform passengers about what is on the ground and they are satisfied they go and pick them,” he further explained.

Meanwhile, some regular patrons of the ride-hailing services like Uber and Bolt are dissatisfied with the decision.

They explained that the new prices have negative implications on their finances.

“Why is it that when there is a surge, we pay more. But when it favours the customer, they have issues?” a customer questioned.

“We shouldn’t be affected as customers. I think they should deal with the App companies; this new trend is not fair”.

Another indicated that: “You order a ride, the driver will come because of the price issue, he will make the trip offline. Sometimes you have a discount on your App, but the driver will say I don’t take discount. And looking at the cost of fuel these days it is not also helping the drivers and so both parties should resolve the issue themselves so that customers will feel comfortable”.