Commuters across the country are expected to pay more for public transport from this week, with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) preparing to announce a new fare structure following the latest increase in petroleum prices.
According to the union, the adjustment has become necessary to enable commercial transport operators to cope with escalating operating costs, including fuel, vehicle spare parts, lubricants and taxes.
Deputy Spokesperson of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said the union’s leadership was assessing the latest fuel price changes before determining the extent of the increase.
He indicated that the new fares would be announced by the end of the week, bringing an end to uncertainty over the union’s earlier proposal for a substantial adjustment.
“The leadership will also meet to take their decision, whether we are still going by the 30%, if it will come down to 20% or whatever,” Mr. Amoah told Joy News yesterday.
“I strongly believe by the close of this week, by the end of this week, something will come out for our drivers and then our passengers to also comply with,” he added.
The GPRTU had proposed a 30 percent increase in transport fares at a meeting in August this year but put the decision on hold after the government announced a GH¢2 reduction in the price of diesel.
According to Mr. Amoah, the union suspended its planned adjustment on the understanding that the reduction in fuel prices would ease the financial pressure on transport operators.
However, he said the anticipated reduction did not materialise during the middle pricing window of August, while the cost of running commercial vehicles remained high.
The latest increase in petroleum prices has consequently renewed pressure on the union to adjust fares, he intimated.
Mr. Amoah said maintaining the existing fares had become increasingly difficult for drivers, who were already dealing with higher costs across several areas of their operations.
“Going forward, there is nothing we can do than to come out officially by increasing the fares for our drivers to also continue doing their business,” he said.
He stressed that fuel prices were only one component of the cost pressures confronting commercial transport operators.
According to him, the prices of spare parts and lubricants have also increased significantly, while taxes and other charges continue to add to the cost of operating commercial vehicles.
Mr. Amoah said the leadership would first complete its assessment of the latest petroleum price changes before settling on the new fares.
By Ernest Kofi Adu