Koforidua taxi drivers defer fare increase

Drivers in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, have decided not to increase their fares in order to save their business from further declining.

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the drivers said the transport business in the capital was not booming, thus an attempt to increase the transport fares by a further 10 per cent was likely to compound their problems.

Last week, public transport operators across the country increased fares by 10 per cent as announced by the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) in a statement issued and signed by its national chairman Mr Kwame Kuma last week.

Fix deplorable roads

The drivers demanded that the fuel prices be reduced and deplorable roads   fixed to revamp their work rather than increase the transport fares which they claimed would negatively affect their already dying business.

One of the drivers, Mr Godfred Kwadwo Boadu, complained that the increment of the fares would rather affect them negatively.

“We have not increased our fares because already business has taken a downward turn, so a further increase will be bad for business. I would have wished that the fares were increased but we are mindful of the passengers’ reactions,” he said.

Mr Isaac McCarter, a taxi owner, expressed concern about the bad nature of the roads and the increment in fuel prices.

“Our roads are in a bad shape, some of them have never seen bitumen. It is very important that the roads are fixed and the fuel prices reduced rather than compelling us to increase prices. We need the authorities to act diligently on our behalf,” he stated.

Other stations

Meanwhile, the Koforidua-Nkawkaw drivers and passengers seemed to have embraced the new fares without any altercation.

Mr Salisu Muda, a ‘book man’ who issues tickets, expressed his excitement at how the passengers had  received the news without problems.

“Since the announcement a week ago, the passengers have psyched themselves and there has not been any problem here so far. We are happy there has been good understanding between the GPRTU and the passengers,” he said.

Mr Kwame Odame, a mini bus driver, and Lauretta Amoako, a passenger, shared similar sentiments.

They said the increment was very reasonable due to the rise in fuel prices over the years and demanded that the government reduces the prices in the near future to better the standard of living of Ghanaians.