The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is pushing for a 30 percent uptick in transport fares to offset the mounting operational costs driven by soaring fuel prices.
Amoah shared that talks with the Transport Ministry kicked off last Wednesday and are still ongoing this week.
He also brought up GPRTU’s prior effort in January to enforce a 20 percent fare hike, which got rejected by the Ministry due to procedural issues.
Speaking on JoyNews, Samuel Amoah, the Deputy Public Relations Officer, laid out the union’s position.
In previous discussions, GPRTU backed the proposed increase by pointing to various cost elements like spare parts, lubricants, DVLA, and insurance taxes.
He explained, “So, the Ministry invited us to talk, and we accepted the invitation, presenting all our rationales for the 20 percent increment. Even back then, fuel prices weren’t as high as they are now.
“The 20 percent we proposed earlier factored in the cost of spare parts, lubricants, and DVLA and Insurance taxes.
“These were the key areas we focused on to arrive at the 20 percent increase.”
Amoah stressed that the significant surge in fuel prices has prompted them to reassess their initial proposal.
Given the current tough economic conditions, GPRTU has shifted its stance, pushing for a 30 percent rise in transport fares.
He emphasized the importance of this adjustment in easing the financial strain on drivers and ensuring the sustainability of their operations.
Amoah expressed confidence that the Ministry would recognize the urgent need for fare adjustments to support the livelihoods of transport operators and enable them to continue providing essential services to the nation.
“Our hope for Wednesday is that the Transport Ministry will indeed agree with us, allowing us to raise fares for our drivers, giving them peace of mind to carry on serving the nation,” he added.
