Drivers increase transport fares at Koforidua

Drivers in the Koforidua Municipality have protested against the proposed 30 per cent increase in transport fares by the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council (GRTCC), following the over 90 per cent increase in petroleum prices announced by the government.

They contended that since the prices of engine oil and other lubricants had already gone high, accepting the 30 per cent increase in fares would make them operate at a loss.

According to them, they paid between 12,000 and 20,000 cedis a day on income tax and 1.2 million cedis as against 800,000 cedis on insurance.

They are, therefore, agitating for between 50 and 80 per cent fare increases and threatened to park their vehicles if the government refused to review the current fares.

Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the GNA indicated that taxi fares within and outside the municipality have been increased by 100 per cent. For instance, taxi fares have been increased from 800 cedis to 1500 cedis.

Koforidua to Kumasi now attracts a fare of 14,500 cedis as against 9,500 cedis, Koforidua to Anyinam cost 6,000 cedis instead of 3,000 cedis.

Koforidua-Accra (Benz bus) 9,000 cedis instead of 5,200 cedis, while Koforidua-Accra (Peugeot), increased from 9,000 to 18,000 cedis and Koforidua-Accra through Madina (Urvan) cost 10,000 instead of 6,000 cedis.

Fares from Koforidua to the Akwapim Mountains ranges between 5,000 and 6,000 cedis instead of 2,700 and 3,500 cedis.

When contacted, the Eastern Regional Chairman of the GPRTU, Mr James Cudjoe, failed to comment on the increased fares, saying, they were awaiting directives from their head office.

He, however, advised the public to exercise patience since he had sent some union guards to go round to check on drivers who were charging high fares.