Drivers Holds Meeting To Adjust Transport Fares

Leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is holding a crunch meeting in Accra to discuss the feasibility of increasing transport fares as a result of the about 7 per cent fuel prices adjustment last Monday.

Mr Robert Sarbah, GPRTU Greater Accra Regional Chairman, told the GNA in an interview on Thursday that the Union would announce any changes in fares latest by Friday April 4.

He however failed to mention the percentage increment, saying it would have to be agreed on at the meeting with other stakeholders before it would be communicated to the public.

Mr Sarbah said the expected increment was as a result of persistent rise in fuel prices and the increasing cost of vehicular spare parts on the market.

“All these increments have come about because of the cumulative increments by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), parts of vehicles have gone up and also you will have to consider the amounts that pay to drivers,” Mr Sarbah said.

The NPA on Monday increased prices for the various petroleum products as part of its automatic adjustment formula.

Petrol went up by 7.06 percent, diesel by 5.25 percent and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) by 4.74 percent.

Premix went up by a little over 4 percent, while kerosene went up marginally by 0.38percent.

The Ministry of Transport, after consultation with various transport associations and unions in January approved a 20 per cent increase in transport fares effective Monday January 27.

The January increment was after a meeting between the Ministry of Transport and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport unions

The driver unions had suggested a 50 per cent increment but after the Ministry’s negotiation with the unions, the fares were worked down to 20 per cent.