Transport fares shoot up by 15% starting this weekend
With some drivers and transport owners
unreasonably charging an upward fare, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union
(GPRTU) is yet to release the new transport fares this weekend, after the
Ministry of Transport approved a 15 percent hike in fares across the board in
the country.
Justifying
the increment, the Union noted various components that go into the running of
commercial transport services which have gone up during this COVID-19
pandemic; and in addition, considering the reduction of passengers per
transport vehicle.
Also, despite grievances and fears that a transport price increase could affect the price of goods
and services, the GPRTU expected a 50 percent hike due to increased fuel
prices and cost of spare-parts and other material used in running the business.
The Deputy Transport Minister, Daniel Titus Glover, said the various drivers’ unions presented a petition to the ministry on
Monday and were promised that the issue will be looked into.
It was after a meeting between the Transport
Ministry and other stakeholders Mr Glover disclosed, that it was agreed for the
fare to be increased by 15 percent across the board.
“It is obvious that transport operators have sacrificed to ensure
that the nation fights COVID-19, and therefore the state also has to put in
some measures to ensure they are not worse-off while they continue to ensure
social distancing in their vehicles and invest in getting PPE, sanitisers and
handwashing materials at the stations to help fight COVID-19.
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