GPRTU Announces 19% Increment In Transport Fares

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced transport fare increments by 19%, effective Saturday, October 29.

According to the GPRTU, the adjustment has been necessitated by the continuous soaring of prices of petroleum products at the various fuel pumps.

Currently, diesel and petrol are selling for over GH¢15 and GH¢13 respectively, at major fuel pumps; a situation transport operators say is eroding their profit.

According to the General Secretary of the GPRTU, Godfred Abulbire, the increment is due to the galloping inflation and the current depreciation of the Cedi.

He said the 19% increment was agreed upon by GPRTU after an extensive discussion with President Akufo-Addo, together with other transport operators across the country.

Mr Abulbire noted that even though his outfit had a basis for charging more, they listened to the plea from the president to revise their proposed 49%.

“What we should have asked adequately should have been around 49%. But looking at the economic situation, we had to come down to 25% and then even scale down to 20% and then yesterday, 16.5% from the minister.

“After listening to the president, he said all we’re saying is factual. And that there’s nothing there that he’s not aware of. But looking at the situation, the moment fares go up, it affects many things.

“We said the 20% was still a consideration, so we agreed and said we’ll waive off that 1%. Today we’ll be issuing out a communiqué, and then it will take effect on Saturday coming October 29,” he said on Joy News today, October 26.

Meanwhile, VIP JEOUN announced new transport fares for the travelling public effective Monday, October 24.

The fare from Accra- Kumasi, which used to be GH¢85, is now GH¢100, while Accra-Sunyani will now cost GH¢130 cedis.

Also, people moving from Accra to Tamale will have to pay GH¢240.