One of the driver unions in the country has rejected a 13% increase in transport fares approved by the Road Transport Operators on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
Commercial transport fares were increased by the government-backed Road Transport Operators, also an association of commercial vehicle drivers, to make up for hikes in fuel prices recently.
The new 13% increase was expected to take effect from Saturday, June 5, 2021.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, June 3, 2021, members of the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) said the 13% increment cannot sustain their businesses considering the rate of increment in spare parts and fuel commodities in recent times.
“If we agree to the proposal made by government, we stand a greater risk of kicking ourselves out of business.
“In view of this, we wish to categorically state that, the actual increment in terms of percentage according to our calculations should have been 20%,†the group said in a statement.
The group further explained that “In recent times, it has taken drivers more than 10hours to drive from Accra to Kumasi. Those crossing the Adomi bridge have also encountered similar situations whilst those plying the Kasoa-Cape Coast stretch have also not been spared. It must be noted that, such traffic situations causes more consumption of fuel.â€
Read the C-DAG statement in full below.
Press Statement by Concerned Drivers Associaton of Ghana(C-DAG)
For Immediate Release
3/06/21
Rejection of 13% Increment in Public Transport Fares.
The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana(C-DAG) is by this statement rejecting the 13% increment of public transport fares by the Ministry of Transport.
We wish to state that, the 13% increment cannot help in any way to sustain our businesses considering the rate of increment in spare parts and fuel commodities in recent times.
If we agree to the proposal made by government, we stand a greater risk of kicking ourselves out of business.
In view of this, we wish to categorically state that, the actual increment in terms of percentage according to our calculations should have been 20%.
We are thus giving government up to two days to review the proposal.
Without mincing words, we shall implement the 20% increment starting from Saturday should government fail to grant for us what we are seeking for.
It is a matter of knowledge to all Ghanaians the vehicular traffic situations drivers encounter on our main routes.
In recent times, it has taken drivers more than 10hours to drive from Accra to Kumasi. Those crossing the Adomi bridge have also encountered similar situations whilst those plying the Kasoa-Cape Coast stretch have also not been spared. It must be noted that, such traffic situations causes more consumption of fuel.
It must be considered that, the combined situations are causing our inability to render sales to our vehicle owners. This situation is sending us to our early graves gradually as we face continuous intimidation by our car owners.
We would like to mention that, we the members of C-DAG and our colleagues with the GPRTU, Cooperative and PROTOA shall not countenance any form of intimidation of any driver by anyone from the National Security or any other state security agency.
We shall not hesitate to invoke curses with schnapps and a black dog on anyone who dares to intimidate us after our 20% increment.
We however call on Ghanaians to rally behind us since they would not be happy to see our businesses collapse.
Long Live Ghana, Long Live C-DAG
Conveners:
Paa Willie
(National Chairman, C-DAG)
0202965120
Nii Ashie
(Greater Accra Chairman, C-DAG)
0244722641
Aminu Issifu
(Secretary, C-DAG)
0243047321
Cc:
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