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June 12th, 2022 at 07:10 pm
Fuel hikes: GPRTU to meet next week over possible transport fares increment
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has hinted that they will hold a crunch meeting next week. The purpose of the meeting is to deliberate on a “possible” increase in transport fares.
According to the Union, the meeting has become necessary because of what they described as “significant hikes” in fuel prices over the past few weeks.
In the previous month, prices of petrol and diesel have increased by 7.3 per cent and 9.7 per cent respectively.
At the moment, petrol is trading at an average of GH¢10.10 per litre whereas the average price for diesel is pegged at GH¢12.20 per litre.
In the previous month, transport fares increased by 20 per cent.
As a result, prices of petrol and diesel were GH¢9.41 and GH¢11.12 respectively as of May 9, 2022. This was when the new transport fares took effect.
According to Mr Richard Yaw Amankwah, the Deputy General Secretary in Charge of Operations, GPRTU, drivers “have not seen any significant increase” in their income since the last increment in fares. This is because of the continuous increment in fuel prices. He said this when talking to the Ghana News Agency.
He continued by saying “It is not our doing. The situation demands it. We are also consumers. Whenever fuel prices go up, it affects our business and even though we are not happy to increase transport fares, it will go against our business if we don’t do so,”.
The GPRTU implemented the last 20 per cent increment in transport fares without any negotiation with the Government.
According to the Union, the decision was taken after several attempts to engage the Ministry of Transportober their proposed rate failed.