The chairman of the Western Regional Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr. Kwesi Ansah, has said that the union is expecting a 30 percent increase in transport fare after stakeholder consultation.
The move follows a continuous increase in the price of fuel without corresponding increase in transport fares for sometimes now.
According to him, since the emergence of COVID-19, drivers have been prevented from increasing the price of their fares though the price of spare parts and other Vehicular expenditures continue to rise.
Also, it was important for all other significant components contributing to the increase in the price of fuel to be considered into the new pricing of transport fares to ensure that the union had a solid case. For example, the tax component on fuel per the 2021 budget also needed to be factored, that is the 30-pesewa spike in petroleum products which was also expected to reflect on 1st May 2021. He spoke on Adzekye Mu Nsem on Spice 91.9
“We are pushing for 30 percent increase in fuel prices; fuel has increased from 4.25GH to 6.13GH per Littre and this is almost 50 cent, again since the emergence of COVID-19, drivers were not allowed to increase transport fare though price of spare parts and other equipments used in our work have gone up. Again you know that the tax component on fuel which is the 30-pesewa spike in petroleum products in the budget was expected to reflect on 1st May 2021. It meant that we needed a bit of patient to ensure that we go to the negotiation table with all our arsenals”.
Mr. Kwesi Ansah advised passengers to be prepared for at least a 20% increment in transport fares by Monday to avoid any brawl between drivers, passengers, and conductors.
Meanwhile, a group known as the Concerned Drivers Association has indicated that it will increase transport fares by 40 percent, effective Monday, May 10, 2021.
According to them, their resolve to increase the fares holds, despite the government’s announcement of a reduction in the price of fuel by eight pesewas per litre.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA), after a meeting with stakeholders on Tuesday reduced the 17-pesewa margin on the prices of petroleum products to nine pesewas.
But the Spokesperson for the Concerned Drivers Association, David Agboado, says fares will still go up.
He indicated that they considered various factors, including the anticipation of a general increase in the cost of fuel in the coming weeks on the world market.
“The OMCs have their own margin that they will bring out later because we know that the world market will be shooting up from today to the 15th. The first window will come out and when it does, it will be more than that 27 cedis so based on that, we’ll stick with the 40% we want to take. It will take effect on Monday,” he said.
The General Secretary of GPRTU, Godfred Abulbira Adogma, had said the fare increment will be between 15% and 20%.
Story Kwame Offei
