The Ghana Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has unilaterally added 20% to new lorry fares announced on Saturday, October 29th, 2022.
This increment took effect on Wednesday, November 2, 2022, nationwide. In just a week, this accumulated to the 40% increment proposed by the Concerned Drivers Association in October 2022.
According to some passengers, “after the fare increment on Saturday, places, where drivers increased by 50 pesewas to the already amount, from yesterday, additional 50 pesewas has been added to the fare”.
“Again, those that were increased by GH¢1 has been increased to GH¢2. Meaning if Kwame Nkrumah Circle to Santa Maria was GH¢6, it has now been increased to GH¢8”.
The Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr. Samuel Amoah has indicated that the failure of the government to stabilize the fuel prices in the country will enable them to always increase the fares without seeking the government’s consent.
This uninformed increment raised much agitation between drivers and passengers yesterday.
According to Mr. Amoah, the increment in spare parts, fuel, cost of maintenance and others was the major reason for the unannounced 20% increment yesterday.
As of Wednesday, November, 3, Petrol was sold at the pumps at GH¢17.99 per litre, Kerosene sold at GH¢14.70, and Diesel at GH¢23.49.
These same hikes in fuel prices compelled some drivers in the Ashanti Region to park their vehicles today in protest of price instabilities.
According to the PRO of GPRTU, “if care is not taken there will be a nationwide strike over the challenges they are facing as transport operators.
“Passengers sometimes fail to oblige with the fare increment and that makes their work difficult” he added.
He indicated that “it is not the wish of GPRTU to always declare fare increments but the current situation in terms of fuel increment and inflation on spare parts has also caused them to act in such a manner that others may think it’s “inhumane”.
He disclosed this in an interview monitored by the Ghana Report on Joy News on Thursday morning November 3, 2023.
In an interview with some drivers at Kasoa Krispol Junction, they described this abrupt increment as worrisome but they cannot do anything concerning the issue due to how the fuel prices keep increasing in the country.
They have complied with management to also increase the fare by 20%.
Below are the former and the current price lists for the people of Kasoa Opeikuma Junction.
GPRTU is therefore calling on the government to address with urgency the matter at hand concerning the continuous hikes in fuel prices in the country to prevent the back-and-forth increment in fares.