Commuters and Ghanaians in general, are not happy about the spate at which transport fares are increased in the country.
Some members of the Ghanaian public who spoke to Mynewsafric.com when we went onto the street to sample opinion, called on government to formulate policies that will regulate the price increases.
They lamented it affect their budgets especially when they have drawn their financial plans for the year.
The Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) have announced that transport fares will go up from Monday of October 25, 2021.
The proportion at which the increase will be implemented is yet unknown, but according to the Union, it will be as a result of the increase in fuel prices.
The Industrial Relations Officer of the GPRTU’s Accra chapter Alhaji Abass Imoro, said they had talked with the Transport Ministry about the matter and that the only thing left for them to do now is raise the fares by next week.
But some Ghanaians are not happy about the announcement. They believe the increment must be regulated by the state to prevent the ‘arbitrary’ manner in which the transport operators raise fares.
A commuter who spoke to our reporter said “I don’t want to pre-empt anything since there could be another increase soon,” referring to the rate at which our fuel prices have risen.
The Union has previously warned that if the current pattern of rising gasoline prices continues, it would be forced to consider raising transportation rates. This will be second time the fares will go up in 4 months.
Another person also said, “The increment of fuel prices causes inflation and for that matter, they will plead that, fuel prices are reduced”.
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A lady who spoke in twi said “I will not be surprised about the increment, we aork only to pay transport fares. Just that we will always fight with the driver’s mates but that’s how it will be. It is a if government is using us like slaves, that’s how it is in Africa. But government must do something about it”.
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Hailing app driver lamented how increment in fuel price affect their business. He said although they should also enjoy the increment as other commercial drivers, their respective companies do not adjust fares to correspond with the fuel increments.
“Assuming I used to buy fuel hundred Cedis to work sales of 200 cedis and the same amount of fuel is giving me only hundred cedis, it means I’m losing. I buy the fuel, work and at the end of the day, I won’t get anything” he told our reporter Melody Hini-Amoako
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