The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has urged its members not to increase fares until it concludes negotiations with the government on its proposed 20% increment of fares.
This call follows an inconclusive meeting between the union and the government.
The union recently threatened to increase transport fares by 60 percent and later agreed to increase them by 20 percent.
However, the Industrial Relations Officer of the Union, Abass Moro, has pleaded with transport operators to continue charging their current fares as they continue to engage the government on the issue.
“We made our grievances known, and they also told us their side. Finally, we have to go back and have another meeting. We will use your medium to tell our people [drivers] that where we have got to, we are pleading that they should still maintain what we are taking for now until we come out very clearly. So that nobody will say drivers are taking advantage of them. It’s our business that we are trying to defend,” Mr Moro said on Citi News.
Parliament recently passed the Emissions Levy Bill, which imposes an annual fee of GHC100 for all petrol and diesel car owners starting January 2024.
The government introduced this new tax bill in Parliament to promote using eco-friendly energy sources to power vehicles.
The initiative is part of the government’s drive towards more climate-positive actions and offsetting carbon output.
In response to these developments, the GPRTU has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, urging reconsideration of the Emission Levy Bill.