The Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) have urged commuters not to adhere to any proposed new transport fares that have yet to receive official approval.
This announcement comes in response to the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, declaring a 15 per cent increase in transport fares effective Monday, July 22.
The association attributed the increase in transport fares to the rising fuel costs at the pumps.
Additionally, the drivers cited that the increase in essential items such as spare parts, crucial for the transport business, has further necessitated this decision.
However, in a joint press release, the GPRTU and the GRTCC said they were not aware of any decision taken to increase fares.
“It has come to our notice that a group calling itself Transport Operators Association has announced their intention to increase public transport fares by 15% effective Monday, 22nd July 2024.
“According to them, their actions are a result of the recent 2.5% increment in fuel prices in the second pricing window of July 2024,” the statement dated July 18 said.
However, the unions said there had been no engagement with stakeholders on fare adjustments.
“Though we recognize that there has been some marginal increase in the price of petroleum products, we will continue to engage with stakeholders to consider the various inputs into our operations,” it noted.
“We also wish to put on record that there has not been any engagement with stakeholders in this instance. Therefore transport fares remain the same until such a decision is reached by stakeholders and communicated to the general public as it has been the practice,” the unions added in their statement.
Read the full statement below:
