Commercial Drivers in the Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolis have expressed disappointment in the government for reducing fuel prices by GH¢ 0.15p per litre through Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta’s address on Thursday, March 24.
During a visit to some of the stations by the Spice News Team, some drivers say the GH 15p is insignificant considering the high standard of living in the country.
Papa Atta, a driver at the Anaji Taxi Rank said, “The 15 pesewa reduction is not enough. It would have been better if they did not reduce it. The hardship is unbearable, the government could have done more than this.”
He said if nothing is done at the continuous hikes of the petroleum products, drivers will embark on a sit down strike.
Driver Mark stated that if the government would consider increasing transport fares as prices of fuel rise, drivers would be happy. He, however, was of the view that when fuel prices shoot up, goods and services increase also which have a toll on Ghanaians.
The Head of Industrial Relations for the Ghana Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Alhaji Ibrahim Moro in an interview with the media in Accra, said” “we are shocked. All drivers, including private drivers, are shocked. We the commercial drivers or professional drivers expected to get very meaningful reduction and not minimal 15 pesewas”.
He said, “The 15 pesewas is woefully inadequate and definitely, we are going to revisit our upward adjustments of transport fares”.
Alhaji Moro said, “If it happens like this, most people will stop driving because you can’t save anything for your child”.
“How are you going to get money to look after your child? Look at the taxi drivers who are sweating like a fish…they cannot get anything at the end of the day”.
He expressed worry that “the reduction is not going to last forever but for just three months”.
“Who knows if fuel will go up again? We will be sitting, from Monday to Tuesday…if we have to add more to the 15% proposed upward adjustment that we sent to the Transport Ministry, we will because this 15% will not change our decision to increase our fares”.
