Drivers are pushing for an increase in transport fares, proposing a 30% hike pending approval by the government.
The Coalition of Transport Operators said the decision to increase the fares by 30% was reached after a meeting last Thursday, February 3, 2022.
The Coalition is made up of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other notable driver unions,
The Coalition has explained that the proposed increment will shield its members from the effects of recurrent fuel price increases over the last six months.
Other driver unions that have agreed on the proposed increment include the Concerned Drivers Association, Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), amongst others.
Transport operators are expected to meet the government today, February 7, 2022, over the proposed fares in line with existing price-setting conventions.
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A spokesperson for the Concerned Drivers Association, David Agboado, has indicated that even if the 30% proposed increase is not ratified by the government, the public should expect an increase in the cost of transportation.
“On Thursday, we met at TUC, GPRTU headquarters, and we have decided to increase transport fares by 30%. The measures we used to reach this decision are the current increase in fuel prices, increase in the price of items we use, government charges amongst others. That is what we are hoping to charge after seeing the Minister on Monday [February 7, 2022],” he said.
Over the last few months, the frequent increase in fuel prices has been of much concern to drivers, particularly commercial drivers.
Members of the Concerned Drivers Association have on several occasions tried to increase transport fares, but after talks with the government, they hold back, hoping that the prices of fuel will reduce.
At some fuel pumps, a litre of fuel has exceeded the GH¢7 prices.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers and the Institute for Energy Studies (IES), notable energy think tanks in Ghana, have both predicted that fuel prices may cross the GH¢8 mark soon.