GPRTU defers transport fare increment to next week

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) says a meeting with the Ministry of Transport on Tuesday, April 12 would determine the percentage increase in transport fares.

GPRTU and other unions met on Monday to deliberate and announce an increase in transport fares following recent hikes in fuel prices.

But Citi News sources say negotiations by a delegation from the ministry got the unions to shelve their announcement until final engagements with the government.

The Industrial Relations Officer of GPTRU, Abass Imoro tells Citi News the unions are proposing an additional 15% increment in transport fares.

“Since we are postponing it, we intend to come out with nothing less than 15% but for now we haven’t officially announced it. We have to swallow it until after Tuesday’s meeting,” he said.

Transport fares increased by 15 percent in February 2021, when fuel prices averaged GH¢6.4 per litre

A litre of fuel now sells for GH¢10 after crossing the GH¢8 per litre mark in the first week of March 2022.

The union argues that the move has become necessary due to the increase in the prices of petroleum products.

Both commercial and private drivers, as well as other stakeholders, have urged the government to scrap some taxes on fuel to cushion consumers.