The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has revealed that, the Union will increase transport fares by 19% effective on Saturday, October 29th, 2022.
The Union explains that the increment is due to the hikes in fuel prices, increasing inflation in the Country and the depreciation of the Ghana cedi.
Speaking on Joy TV’s AM show, the General Secretary of the Union Mr. Godfred Abulbire, said that, the 19% increment was agreed upon after the Union held discussions with President Akufo-Addo yesterday, 25th October, 2022.
According to him, the Union had initially decided to increase the fares by 49%. However, during their discussions with the President, the President impressed on them to reduce it and hence the decision to increase the existing fares by 19%.
Mr. Abulbire also disclosed that, the Transport Minister Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, had initially asked that they increase the fares by only 16.5% but they disagreed.
“What we should have been asking adequately should have been around 49%. But looking at the economic situation, we had to come down to 25% and then even scale down to 20% and then yesterday 16½% [from the Minister].
Godfred Abulbire, GPRTU Secretary
The President had also suggested that they heed to the Minister’s plea, but they could only settle for 19% and even out of out of respect for the President.
“And so as a father, the President was asking us to reconsider our decision and see if we could take the 16% offered by the Minister. But we said that was actually a problem … So we all agreed that we’ll take off 1% and we’ll accept 19% and that’s how the meeting concluded.”
Godfred Abulbire, GPRTU Secretary
The GPRTU is expected to release a communiqué later today to communicate its decision to the general public.
Justifications for GPRTU’s Decision
With the surge in fuel prices, GPRTU’s decision to increase transport fares by 19% seems justifiable.
Diesel and Petrol is being sold at major fuel stations for GH¢15 and GH¢13 respectively.
Fuel prices in the Country started rising sometime in February this year. As at, February 18, 2022, GOIL which is State-owned, was selling diesel for GH¢7.88per liter.
In October, that is just seven (7) months down the line, GOIL is selling diesel for GH¢15.99.
GOIL announced that effective today, 26th October, 2022, Super XP Ron95 will be selling for GH¢13.99 and diesel XP will be selling at GH¢15.99.
The surge in the prices is alarming and because transport operators just like all other businessmen are in business to make profit, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) cannot be blamed for its decision to increase transport fares.
Meanwhile, VIP JEOUN also announced new transport fares which took effect on Monday, 24th October, 2022.
Traveling in a VIP Executive Coach from Accra to Kumasi which previously was GH¢85 is now GH¢100. That is a whooping 18% increment.
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