The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has intimated that the 13 percent increment in transport fares comes as a result of it not wanting to over burden Ghanaians.
Speaking on the increment, the Industrial Relations Officer of GPRTU in the Greater Accra Region,;Alhaji Imoro Abass, disclosed that the hardship in the country is unbearable hence they could not bargain for higher fares that would overburden Ghanaians.
He also averred that,;the upward adjustment in transport fares became crucial to help ease the current hardships drivers were facing.
Justifying the increment, Mr. Abass maintained that if transport fares had not been increased,;drivers would have parked their cars and moved out of the transport business.
“We are all aware that;there has been a number of increments in fuel prices without drivers increasing the transport fares. When the COVID-19 social distance directive was introduced, it really affected us especially the long-distance drivers. So, there’s every justification for the adjustment.”
Imoro Abass
Transport fares increase by 13%
Road Transport Operators in the country have increased commercial transport fares by thirteen percent and;this is the first increase in public transport fares this year.
The new prices are expected to take effect from Saturday, June 5. This means that passengers would have to pay 20 pesewas on every one cedi charge.
According to the operators, the increase is in line with the administrative arrangements on public transport fares.
In a statement,; the operators noted that; “after long and difficult negotiations with stakeholders,;a 13 percent upward adjustment in public transport fares across all category of services has been urged upon. This is to accommodate predominantly an increase in the price of fuel.”
The fares cover inter-city (TroTro), inter-city (LongDistance), and shared taxis across the nation.
The statement added that “upon consultations, government has assured us that it will continue with efforts to prevent a steep rise in input cost. Government has also assured us by a letter from the Ministry of Finance that the suspension of the quarterly income tax payment by owners of tro-tro and taxis will be extended to cover intercity commuter vehicles to reduce the operational cost.”
A call for increase in fares
Over the past weeks,;there has been some issues raised by both drivers and passengers with regards to the increase in fuel prices. Whiles drivers lament on the inconvenience the increase has caused them,;commuters have also complained about the suggested increase in the fares.
But, the GPRTU based on the concerns assured that they were in an engagement with;government to bring a solution to the problem which they have amicably arrived at.
Prior to this, the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG),;urged all drivers to wait for the outcome of the engagement between GPRTU and the government before increasing fares as some unions were already increasing their fares.
In a communique,; it urged commercial drivers in the various transport unions to restrain themselves from increasing transport fares. Also
This was due to the Private Transport Operators announcing a 20% increment in transport fares, an independent move from the GPRTU’s directive.
