– GPRTU
The Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union (GPRTU) has called on the general public to disregard the 15 percent increase in transport fares circulating in the media.
The Concerned Drivers Association announced the 15 percent increment due to surging operational costs in the country’s transport business. The association noted that the adjustment will take effect on Friday, November 1, 2024.
But the largest transport union in the country, GPRTU says the public should discard this announcement.
Speaking exclusively to The High Street Journal, the Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Abbas Moro Ibrahim explained that the said association has no authority to announce an increment that will affect the entire country.
He further noted that the announcement also defied the due processes laid down for announcing transport hikes in the country hence the public should remain calm and ignore the said increment.
“We ask the public to discard their 15% lorry fare increment. We have our processes of coming up with any upward adjustment in lorry fares. Yes, the prices of our spare parts have gone up. Most of the components we use in running transports have gone up. But did they consider the system we use before coming out to announce any lorry fare? The answer is no,” the PRO confirmed to The High Street Journal.
Abbass Moro Ibrahim, however, admitted that as the Concerned Drivers are lamenting, it is very true that operational costs such as servicing, lubricants, and spare parts among others have seen an astronomical rise in recent times.
He, therefore, maintained that the due procedures laid down must followed. According to the PRO, following the processes will ensure that the interests of both drivers and passengers are prioritised for mutual benefits.
He said, “We normally identify all the components we use in running transport. After doing that, we sit with the Transport Ministry, who of course, also speak on behalf of the passengers. Then we notify the general public of our intention. Then we announce the percentage. We even give some few days ahead.”
“Yes, we agree with our brothers that components and other items we use to run transport have gone up, but we have to use the process whereby the passengers will also understand us. So for now we ask the public to discard what our brothers have come up with.,” he emphasized.
