GPRTU announces 10 per cent increase in fares

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council (GRTCC) have announced a 10 per cent increase in transport fares with effect from Monday, June 4, 2018.

The last time transport fares went up was April 2017. It was increased by 15 per cent.

The increment covers intra-city transport, popularly known as trotro; inter city (long distance) and shared taxis.

According to the leadership of the GPRTU and the GRTCC, it would have appreciated a 15 per cent increment but would nonetheless manage with the 10 per cent.

The leadership noted that the increment was to “accommodate predominantly an increase in the price of fuel.”

A joint statement issued in Accra on Friday and signed by the National Chairman of the GPRTU, Mr Kwame Kuma, and the National Chairman of the GRTCC, Mr Ben Amoabeng Peprah, said the announcement was also in line with the administrative arrangement in public transport fares.

Comply

Members of the transport unions have been urged to comply with the new fares and post same at their loading terminals to avoid needless confrontations with passengers.

The leadership is also praying its members, members of the unions and the general public to co-operate for the successful implementation of the new fares.

Assurance

The leadership of the transport unions said it would have preferred a 15 per cent upward adjustment in fares but upon further consultations with the government, it settled on 10 per cent.

“Government has assured us that it will continue with efforts to prevent a steep rise in input cost. We, therefore, encourage government to keep to its commitment in this regard,” the statement said.

Reaction

Some passengers the Daily Graphic spoke to said the 10 per cent increment was in order considering the number of times fuel prices had gone up this year.

Others prayed market women would not take undue advantage of the increment to shore up the prices of foodstuffs.

Background

In the past, there had been confrontations between commuters and transport operators anytime transport fares went up.

Drivers have been accused of charging more than the approved fares and, for that reason, the government and the transport unions met and agreed to liaise in fixing fares to the satisfaction of all parties.

As part of measures to forestall altercations between passengers and drivers, new fares are to be fixed at transport stations and within buses for passengers to be duly notified.