The Private Commercial Transport Operators(PCTO) has indicated an increment in transport fares by 30 percent, starting tomorrow, Friday February 18, 2022.
In a statement by the Transport Operators, it indicated that the increment is due to the increasing fuel prices in the country.
“Members are therefore directed to implement the increase from tomorrow, 18th February, 2022, without further delay. This has become necessary to save our transport business from collapsing with the frequent upward adjustments in fuel prices.”
Private Commercial Transport Operators
The Private Commercial Transport Operators stated that a gallon of fuel which used to sell at the pump for GHc27, has now jumped to almost GHc36 per gallon. The statement noted that as the public may be aware, government and the Coalition of Private Commercial Transport Operators are still engaging in negotiations for an increase in transport fares.
“While we the operators are calling for 30% increase in transport fares, government has put on the table 10%. As a result, the negotiation ended inconclusively and is expected to continue tomorrow, 18th February, 2022.”
Private Commercial Transport Operators
According to the transport operators, sadly, before the scheduled meeting with government can take place, fuel prices have already been increased by about 30 pesewas per litre and as a result the increment must take place.
“Now a litre of fuel at some of the major filling stations are being sold for GHC 7.990.”
Private Commercial Transport Operators
The Private Commercial Transport Operators entreated its valued customers to bear with them as they need to save their business, sustain it and keep providing customers with their critical services.
This move comes shortly after the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC) hinted that fuel prices could go up by 30 pesewas which has been seen taking effect with the price per litre currently selling at Ghc7.990.
COPEC’s Executive Secretary, Duncan Amoah, who made the projection stated that as of yesterday, 16th February 2022, at FOB price of $880.79, its projected ex-pump price was GH₵7.764, so it was expecting that the max ex-pump price shall be hovering around GH₵7.750.
Presently, prices on the market are at an average of GH₵6.4 per litre. In 2022 alone, the price of fuel has increased by about GH₵1, and public transport operators are holding conversations to increase transport fares.
According to COPEC, the restoration of the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy (PSRL) by the National Petroleum Authority did not help issues either.
NPA to ban tankers diverting fuel
Meanwhile, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has served notice that it will ban transporters whose fuel tankers will be caught engaging in fuel diversion.
According to the NPA, it has been lenient in the past but will leave no room for such illegality to fester.
Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, stated that as part of his primary objective to sanitize the system, transporters found in engaging in fuel diversion will be banned indefinitely. He indicated that the authority has installed tracking devices and seals on tankers that transport fuel from various depots across the country to clamp down on the illegal activity.
“These loadings are done with the aid of technology and a digitalized platform. When they load, the BRV is sealed but when people leave the BOST depot, instead of them going straight to wherever they’re supposed to offload the products, they’ll go to an unauthorized yard, small yards dotted around the towns where they’ll then go to try to tamper with the seal.”
Mustapha Hamid
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