GPRTU hints at a 20% increment in transport fares, less than a month after a 15% increase
Another hike in transport fares is in the offing as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union has started talks with the government for an upward adjustment of existing fares due to the skyrocketing fuel prices.
Just three weeks ago, the union upwardly adjusted fares by 15% but are now calling for another increment following the hikes in petroleum prices.
The largest transport union has revealed that this time round it is targeting a possible upward adjustment of about 20 per cent.
“There will be fare increment at all cost to cushion our members. It will come. If we want to do adequate adjustment, then we are looking at two issues. Currently, we would be asking for about 20 per cent this time around. It’s actually realistic. We are going to speak from the experience we had from the 15 per cent; whether it did us good or bad”, General Secretary of the GPRTU,” Godfred Abulbire said
The price of Diesel is currently pegged at GHS10 per litre while the price of Petrol has crossed the GHS9 mark at some Oil Marketing Companies as projected by industry players.
GPRTU after their appeal also complained that something must be done about the persistent rise in the cost of petroleum products. It must be curtailed given its negative impact on revenue generated by its members.
Mr Godfred Abulbire also revealed that the Union will be engaging government to look at a reducing petroleum price or possible introduction of fuel subsidies as a result of the significant surge.
“The other issue we are going to speak about is that government should waive off some of the taxes. We want to see if the government will listen this time around. If not, then definitely, the fare increment will come. Another area we will discuss with the Transport Ministry is whether subsidies can be introduced.”
