The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Abass Imoro, has described the recent increase in transportation fares as burden sharing with citizens.
Abass Imoro indicated that the drivers cannot bear the cost alone as such had to share with citizens. “We’ve been talking about this for some time now.”
The PRO recalled the union’s initial caution of increasing the transport fares should the cost of fuel cross the 10 percent threshold. He stated that their decision was informed by the Transport Ministry’s neglect in attending to the union’s proposal on the fares.
Abass Imoro disclosed that despite the increment, the ministry has still not reached out to the union. “As at the close of yesterday, we hadn’t officially heard anything from them.”
According to Abass Imoro, the GPRTU is into serious business and is working to make profit, as such, couldn’t further tolerate the delay from the Transport Ministry and went ahead to increase the fares. “Not too much profit though but we are trying to make sure we move forward and we have realized that the system is not working the way it should. “
“We always have to go back to certain things which has taken place. As leaders, we also don’t have to wait till our members force us to do right things for them. If they try pushing you round to do things before you do, then you are not a leader. This and many other things forced us to take this decision that we have taken. After all, 20 percent is quite religious; it’s not anything disturbing.”
Abass Imoro
GPRTU is autonomous
Reacting to the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council’s (GRTCC) call to the public to disregard the 20 percent increment, Abass Imoro revealed that the GPRTU is autonomous and cannot act under the GRTCC’s instructions. He stated that the GPRTU is not lording over anybody but rather taking decisions to aid its business.
“We heard it and we said they are jokers because we are not serving under them and have never been told they are now PRO’s for the Transport Ministry.”
Abass Imoro
Mr. Imoro stated that GPRTU has been sending in proposals to the Transport Ministry and if GRTCC also have concerns, they should send proposals alongside GPRTU, meet with the ministry and discuss it. “They have their eyes on us because they know they are inferior to us.” According to Abass Imoro, if the GRTCC is truly with the transport operators, they should understand and feel the current situation the drivers are facing.
The GPRTU PRO confirmed that the increment has not taken effect across board by some transport stations. He explained that the Union comes up with a communique which mostly takes about two to three days to implement across board, hence the reason some fares haven’t changed.
The GPRTU on Saturday, May 7, 2022 increased transport fares by 20 percent as against the initial announced date which was Friday, May 13. The decision, according to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, is as a result of the increase in fuel prices over the last few months.
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