The National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for the Bortianor–Ngleshie Amanfro constituency in the 2020 general election, Alexander Akuoko, has intimated that government is not being fair to commercial transport operators across the country.
Mr. Akuoko speaking on fuel prices and how it affects the drivers, stated that a fair consideration must be given to commercial transport operators, especially with regard to pricing of transport fares as they are the lifeline of the country.
According to him, every aspect of the economy is determined by market forces, primarily demand and supply, “but when it comes to driving and transport fares, the market forces do not apply because governments know they are an essential service and if left to price fares on their own, it can cause some difficulty in the country.”
Mr. Akuoko described the petroleum sector as an integral part of the country’s economy, with all sectors in the way or the other depending on it. He posited that as a result of the dependence on it by the sectors, value must be placed on the various commercial transport operators in the country as well.
“Service providers need fuel to function. Most telcos have masts which are powered by generators which depend on fuel. This proves how fuel affects every aspect of the economy. So why is it that when it comes to lorry fare prices drivers have to meet with the minister who determines the price for them? We are not being fair to them if we keep doing this”.
Alexander Akuoko
Deregulate transport sector
The former National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Bortianor–Ngleshie Amanfro urged the government to deregulate the transport sector to a certain level. Explaining his suggestion, he stated that deregulating the sector will give drivers the leeway to work and determine their transportation fares independently in relation to whenever there is a fuel price hike.
“It is just not fair for drivers to wait on government to increase lorry fares for them when fuel prices keep rising in the country”.
Alexander Akuoko
His comments follow the Coalition of Private Road Transport Operators warning of a possible strike on Monday, November 29, 2021 if their call on government to reduce fuel prices are unheeded.
The group, in a statement, after a crunch meeting, resolved that all commercial vehicles must tie red bands on their vehicles in protest of the high prices of fuel.
This comes after the Unions, on Tuesday, November 09, gave the Government an ultimatum to reduce taxes on fuel, threatened to ground all commercial vehicles by 3pm Thursday, November 11, 2021. They, however, placed the intended strike on hold following a meeting with the Transport Ministry.
The drivers expressed disappointment at government’s refusal to meet their demands when it had the opportunity to do so in the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented by the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, to Parliament.
