Transport fares should adjust 40 instead of 30 percent

Hohoe, Feb. 23, GNA - A 40 percent instead of the 30 percent adjustment in transport fares would have been a realistic level of increases that could have cushioned transport owners against other overhead costs in their businesses, Mr Daniel Darko, Secretary of the Hohoe Branch Two of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has observed.

Making the observation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on the effects of the recent 50 percent fuel price increases on the transport business he noted that since fuel was only one component of items involved in running a commercial transport business it was unfair for government to use the percentage increase in fuel prices largely to determine lorry fares.

Mr Darko said a survey conducted in Hohoe after the increase revealed that a used ream 13 tyre (second hand) had shot up to 200,000 cedis from 120,000 cedis, a quarter of engine oil rose to 16,000 cedis from the previous 12,000 cedis with brake fluid selling at 25,000 cedis from 20,000 cedis.

On the deregulation of petroleum products, Mr Winfred Akpah, the Financial Secretary of the branch urged government to be particular about other taxes in the transport sector.

He appealed to government to review its stand on the specification and age of imported vehicles and improve on the road network to make travelling easier, affordable and enjoyable, while embarking on massive public awareness creation on the subject.