No Passenger Should Pay New Transport Fares – GPRTU Orders
Commuters have been asked not to pay any new fares charged by commercial drivers in the country.
It could be recalled there was a communiqué on Monday, April 8, 2024 regarding a possible increase in transport fares.
Two transport unions, Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana and the Transport Operators of Ghana, announced that beginning from Saturday, April 13, 2024, short-distance or intracity transport will see a 15% increment while intercity or long-journey transport goes for 20 percent increase in fares with taxi services charging between 10 cedis to 15 cedis for short distances.
But a statement by the mother unions of the drivers, the Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), says these new fares are “illegal and must be stopped immediately”.
“As leadership, we have followed with keen interest, the recent adjustment in the fuel prices and other related operational cost. We are currently engaging stakeholders to give consideration to the various cost components and agree on the way forward. As has been the practice, the leadership met with the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday 10th April, 2024 to present our demands”, they revealed.
According to the unions, until a “consensus is reached”, any increase in the fares “should be disregarded and treated with contempt”.
They stressed; “We therefore urge commuters not to pay any fare outside the existing fares. We are by this statement, urging the Regional Administrations, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and the Station Welfare committees to ensure compliance to the existing fares as no such decision has been taken regarding any fare increment.”
Read full statement below:
PURPORTED INCREASE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT FARES
It has come to our attention that some sections of Drivers have arbitrarily increased transport fares in contravention of the Administrative Instrument on the review of public transport fares in the country.
This action is illegal and must be stopped immediately if this is true.
As leadership, we have followed with keen interest, the recent adjustment in the fuel prices and other related operational cost. We are currently engaging stakeholders to give consideration to the various cost components and agree on the way forward.
As has been the practice, the leadership met with the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday 10th April, 2024 to present our demands.
Once consensus is reached, the general public will be duly informed. Therefore any increase outside the Administrative Instrument, should be disregarded and treated with contempt. We therefore urge commuters not to pay any fare outside the existing fares.
We are by this statement, urging the Regional Administrations, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies and the Station Welfare committees to ensure compliance to the existing fares as no such decision has been taken regarding any fare increment.
We also want to urge all drivers to abide by this directive and have confidence in the leadership. We will continue to push for the welfare of transport operators.
Source: Ghmessenger.com
