The Association of Transport Operators (ATO) and Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) have denied reports that transportation fares have been increased.
There were media reports of the increase in transport fares yesterday in what many described as an attempt to cause disaffection for the current Akufo-Addo administration.
Chairmen of ATO and GPRTU, Ben Amoabeng Pepra and Kwame Kuma, in a joint statement, stated that “we have heard rumours going round some transport terminals in the country that transport fares have been increased.”
They stated “we are alarmed by such false information being propagated by a group of people, who want to bring the reputation of the Association into disrepute.”
They assured the general public that “there have not been increases and the information should not be entertained.”
The two organisations therefore appealed to its members to disregard the information and charge the present fares so as to avoid any confrontation with the travelling public.”
That, they said, was because “we have an arrangement with the Ministry of Transport to review transport fares periodically. We are currently in talks with the Ministry and when we are ready, we will inform the general public accordingly.”
In an interview, Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, also debunked the reports, saying some faceless persons spread the rumours to create apprehension among the populace.
He, however, explained that “we consider increases in three things-interest rates, spare parts and fuel. It’s a combination of the three. If the three come together and they are more than 10 percent, then we sit down with them and negotiate.”
“Unfortunately it’s the fuel, which has seen some level of increment. But when you put all of them together, it doesn’t call for an increase in fares so we are now going to sit down with them and discuss the issues.
That notwithstanding, he said “we will also listen to concerns about their operational activities and we will put all their concerns together and the fares have to go up, we will let Ghanaians know but as it stands now the government and the transport operators have not reached such agreement.”
By Charles Takyi-Boadu