Dabai: Ferry Passengers Reject GH¢3 Fare Increment, Threaten To Protest
- The Dambai ferry passengers threatened to protest over the sudden fare increase from GH¢4 to GH¢7
- The Assembly Member of the area criticised the ferry authorities for the lack of stakeholder consultation
- The Assembly Member indicated that the community leaders will engage the Dambai ferry authorities for further action
The passengers who rely on the Dambai ferry are threatening to demonstrate on Monday, April 27, 2026, over the upward adjustment of transport fares.
According to the regular passengers, they were not consulted before the fare hike was announced.
Source: Facebook
The fare adjustment has raised the cost of crossing from GH¢4 to GH¢7. This has raised concern among commuters who depend on the ferry for their daily movements.
Speaking to Accra-based Citi FM on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the Assembly Member for the Dambai Central Electoral Area, Awuranyi Charles, criticised ferry authorities for implementing the increment without engaging key stakeholders, including local leaders and regular users of the service.
Awuranyi Charles said the lack of consultation led to the frustration among residents, prompting plans for a demonstration if the issue is not addressed promptly.
He noted that passengers have already signalled their readiness to protest should the new fares remain in force.
"Passengers have told us that if nothing is done, they will demonstrate on Monday. The increase from GH¢4 to GH¢7 is something they cannot afford, and we, as opinion leaders and assembly members, were not engaged before this decision was taken," he said.
The Assembly Member said he would engage the Dambai ferry operators to confirm the details of the fare adjustment.
He warned that failure to provide satisfactory explanations or reverse the decision could escalate tensions, as both commuters and community leaders are prepared to take collective action.
About the Dambai ferry
The Dambai Ferry is operated by the Volta Lake Transport Company. It serves as an important link in the Oti Region, crossing the Volta Lake to connect Dambai to the Northern regions.
It carries passengers, vehicles, and goods (mostly yams and fish), operating daily between 6:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.
According to the Volta Lake Transport Company (VLTC) the MV Senchi is the ferry that travels between Dambai and the overbank. There are four more ferry crafts operated by the VLTC.
The VLTC stated that since the government sees the ferry operation as its social responsibility towards communities displaced and cut off from existing road connections after the construction of the Volta Dam and the subsequent creation of the lake.
Hence the fares charged for the services have never been able to cover direct operational as well as depreciation costs since tariffs set in recent times have been reduced after insistence from the local authorities.
Source: TikTok
Trotro driver defends transport fare increase
In another story, YEN.com.gh reported that a Ghanaian trotro driver spoke about the decision to increase transport fares.
In a video, he stated that fuel consumption was a major factor behind the decision, which has irked members of the public.
Social media users who took to the comments section of the video have given diverse opinions on the matter.
Source: YEN.com.gh
