Road Transport Operators on May 15, 2023, announced a 10% reduction in public transport fares which is supposed to commence today May 17, 2023.
Coverage by The Ghana Report this morning shows that the majority of the drivers and mates are not complying with the new directive from above as they are taking the old fares from passengers.
Passengers from Odorkor to Kwame Nkrumah Circle pay GH₵4.50p and per the reduction are now supposed to pay GH₵4.00.
In an interview with some passengers heading towards Kwame Nkrumah Circle, they angrily explained that drivers are failing to accept the new fares that have been released by the Road Transport Operators.
One gentleman who nearly slapped a driver’s mate for refusing to accept the new fare said the 10% reduction is not any huge amount that passengers cannot afford to pay but the transport owners should have some level of respect for passengers.
“How much is 20 pesewas for me?”, he quizzed.
“Anytime GPRTU tries to increase transportation fares, drivers and mates quickly comply to that directive so why are you people finding it difficult to also reduce the fares?”
“You people are thieves and no wonder you are always struggling in life”, he angrily noted.
Although some passengers want to see a change in the transport fares, there are some passengers who are backing transport operators to maintain the old fares.
One passenger in the ‘Tro-Tro’ vehicle was of the view that not only fuel reduction can make drivers reduce their charges since spare parts, car tires and other things needed to maintain the vehicles are now very expensive.
“I don’t want anyone to feel like I am happy with how drivers and mates are treating passengers but let’s speak the truth, spare parts are now very expensive. I sell some spare parts at Abossey Okai and trust me some drivers are sometimes unable to buy the correct parts they need for their vehicles. Sometimes drivers buy fake parts and those things are causing accidents daily on our roads which we don’t think of… let us sometimes understand the drivers”, he noted.
The reduction of transport fares by Road Transport Operators has been based on the recent decline in the second pricing window of May 2023 as a result of the decrease in the price of crude on the international market and the relative stability of the Ghana cedi.
According to the Road Transport Operators, the prices of diesel and petrol are likely to be sold for GHS 12.30 and GHS 12.15 per litre respectively at the pumps.
The tallies of the old and new fares are below.
