We have not increased transport fares – GPRTU
Claims that transportation fares are likely to be increased from Monday, October 25, 2021, has been debunked by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
The union explains that it is still on the negotiation table with the government to scrap some taxes and levies placed on petroleum products.
According to General Secretary for GPRTU, Godfred Abulbira Adogma, the union will have cause to increase transport fares if the government fails to heed their call.
“We haven’t said that lorry fares will be increased on Monday. We have tabled some issues to the sector minister for discussion but it is when the discussion fails then, we would have to adjust our fares to the new fuel prices.”
He added, “We have taken a different approach to engage the government through the sector minister to remove some of the taxes and levies on fuel prices.”
“So the issue of a specific date of Monday is something we are all surprised. Government should really look at the fuel taxes and remove them because it is not helping.”
Ghanaians are also yearning to see a reduction in transport fares following the removal of price stabilization and recovery levy (PRSL) on petrol, diesel, and LPG for two months as approved by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
But the GPRTU has advised the public to be measured in their expectations for a reduction in transport fares while also pointing accusing fingers at the government for acting in bad faith despite contractual assurances of stabilizing the prices of fuel that will lead to maintaining transport fares at least in the short term since they were last increased in June 2021.
However, the GPRTU says it is taking steps to meet with the government over the series of levies imposed on fuel products.
Fuel prices have in the past few months witnessed upward and downward adjustments, with the recent being an increase of 2.59%, a situation, industry players have criticized.
In a related development, the anticipation of a reduction in prices at the pumps is yet to take effect even as the second pricing window commences because Parliament is yet to give the NPA the approval needed to scrap the levy.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
