GPRTU denies 15% transport fare hikes

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has dismissed claims by a section of the public that transport fares have been increased by 15 per cent.

Robert Sarbah, Deputy National Chairman of the GPRTU, indicated that increments in transport fares were long overdue but the process had not been exhausted to sanction increments.

Mr Sarbah said the union was still engaging with stakeholders and the official outcome would be announced soon.

“We are yearning for an increment but it will be done correctly. The processes have never been completed and so for now there are no increments,” he told Moro Awudu on Class FM’s Executive Breakfast Show on Friday, March 10.

For him, any increment by drivers would be “unjustified and wrong” until stakeholder consultations have been completed.

A section of the media had reported that commercial vehicle operators had begun charging higher fares following recent increments in fuel prices.

Prices of petroleum products were increased over the weekend, following the free fall of the cedi and adjustments in global oil prices in the second pricing window in February.

In view of that, a litre of petrol is now selling between GHS4.25 and GHS4.39 while a litre of diesel is selling between GHS4.13 and GHS4.25.

However, Mr Sarbah maintained any driver who increased transport fares unilaterally would be sanctioned.