By Emmanuella Deladem Agblevor
Public bus drivers, popularly known as trotro drivers or troski, have begun a worrying trend called “Kasoa straight” at Circle station, adjusting transport fares according to their will especially during evening hours.
In the city of Accra, Circle is the heartbeat of public transports, it has long been known for its chaos, noise, unending commuters and its chronic thievery. However, in recent weeks, a troubling pattern has emerged at this public transport hub making passengers frustrated, stranded and leaving their pockets severely strained.
From Monday, June 23rd to Friday, July 25th, consistent observations at Circle revealed a practice where fares for popular routes such as Circle to Kasoa, increases mysteriously in the evenings. Mostly jumping from the usual 8 cedis especially for Kasoa to 10 cedis or even 15 cedis.
For regular commuters, this fare inflation is not only causing inconveniences, it is becoming an accepted and bitter reality. Where they have to keep extra money to add to the regular fare in the evening. And while inflation, fuel prices and economic pressures may affect official fare increases, this practice at Circle appears to be an unregulated and manipulative act by most drivers and their conductors to suit their own advantage.
The pattern is almost predictable. Ideally, Kasoa public bus operations drop in the evening, especially weekdays. From around 5pm onwards when office workers, traders, students and market women awaits public transports, some drivers and their mates (bus conductors) start manipulating the process. Even when vehicles are ready to go, some drivers remain seated in silence waiting.
The strategy is simple: allow the crowd to build up. As more people arrive, the competition for available seats will intensify. And at the peak of destress, the driver’s mate suddenly calls out the destination, this time attaching a higher price and often the word “straight” to make it sound more exclusive. Meaning, the fare remains the same whether you stop before Kasoa or not, and with no other transport options, passengers are compelled to pay.
For example, a driver going to Kasoa might ignore the waiting crowd for some minutes before suddenly shouting “15 cedis Kasoa straight”. The implication is that this vehicle will avoid unnecessary stops, providing a faster journey. In reality the route is the same just with bloated price.
During one observation a lady shared her frustration after being stranded for nearly an hour. She expressed that, the last time it occurred was last year when, official intervened to stop the activity and it had resumed, leaving her weary.
While some passengers could reluctantly pay the increased fare, others, especially students and low-income workers, were forced to wait for cheaper options. Unfortunately, the wait often drags into the night, leaving people with no choice but to comply.
For many passengers, the emotional stress is just as real as the financial one. The stress of picking a car in Accra’s heavy evening traffic is entails the anxiety of whether you can even afford to board a vehicle home.
The fare increase have also brought about confrontations between drivers and passengers. On one Thursday, a serious argument broke out between a middle age man and a driver’s mate over a ₵15 fare to Kasoa. The passenger accused the crew of “taking advantage of desperate passengers” and insisted the official fare was still ₵10 if he was alighting at Kasoa bus stop.
What began as a verbal exchange quickly drew in several loading boys, who sided with the driver. Rather than stopping the argument, they encouraged the driver to “hold the price,” further aggravating the situation. The argument reached the edge of becoming physical. It took the intervention of other passengers to calm the situation.
On several occasions, drivers have been seen leaving the station with empty seats after passengers refused to pay the inflated fares. Others pretend not to be loading at all, only to suddenly resume once the crowd grows impatient enough to accept the higher price.
According to Ghana’s transport regulations, only the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) has the legal authority to adjust fares. Any fare increase outside this framework is both illegal and exploitative.
Official fare increments are usually announced publicly, often after fuel price adjustments or broader economic considerations. But the practice at Circle falls entirely outside these legal provisions. It is, in essence, a private price setting scheme driven by market desperation rather than government sanction.
Transport unions have, in the past, warned against such behaviour, that it tarnishes the reputation of the industry and puts drivers at risk of sanctions. However, enforcement remains a challenge.
The situation at Circle is not entirely unique. Similar reports have surfaced at other major stations, including Kaneshie and lapaz Station. The combination of weak enforcement, high passenger demand, and economic hardship creates good grounds for such practices.
Above all, fare exploitation undermines public trust in Ghana’s transport system. It also adds another form of hardship for citizens already suffering with rising living costs.
For now, passengers at Circle will continue to experience a very painful evening ritual, balancing patience, timing, and the weight of their wallets in the hope of getting home without paying more than they should. Until the authorities step in with sustained enforcement, the cries of stranded commuters will continue to echo through the station, caused only by the shouts of drivers calling their next overpriced “straight” trip.
