No plans to increase transport fares – PROTOA

The Progressive Transport Owners’ Association (PROTOA) has stated that there are no current plans to increase transport fares.

This statement comes in response to the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana’s announcement of a 15 percent fare hike set to take effect on Monday, July 22, 2024.

The Concerned Drivers Association attributes their fare increase to rising fuel costs, with some oil marketing companies now pricing products above GH₵15 per liter. They also cite the increased prices of essential items like spare parts as a contributing factor.

However, speaking to the media after swearing in interim executives for Peace PROTOA in Koforidua, Peter Kwadwo Ackom, the National Organizer of PROTOA, said that the union will only increase transport fares after the necessary stakeholder engagements with the Transport Ministry have been completed and an agreement reached.

Ackom reiterated that the union is law-abiding and will only adjust fares after proper procedures and consultations with the Ministry of Transport.

“We are law-abiding. We work with a formula before we increase transport fares. We have a consultant who looks into the various parameters that necessitate proposing a percentage increment before we engage the Ministry of Transport. They don’t only consider fuel prices but also spare parts and many other items such as lorry tyres. They give these to the transport minister for the technical team to deliberate and assess before we all agree on a percentage increment.”

The newly elected interim executives for Koforidua Peace PROTOA are Ahiadzi Francis (Chairman), Isaac Darko (2nd Chairman), Alhassan Haruna (Vice Chairman), Abdalah Mohammed (Vice Chairman), Emmanuel Wolegbe (Treasurer), Elizabeth Ohenewaa (Treasurer), Adogo Kwasi Daniel (Secretary), Ismael Ishak (Executive Member), and Isaac Korkor (Executive Member).

The election of interim executives is in compliance with a Koforidua High Court order in a judgment delivered on June 28, 2024, for members of Peace PROTOA in Koforidua to hold a by-election to immediately elect executives whose term of office will be for six months only or up to the last month of the year when general executive elections shall be held.

This was after the court, presided over by Justice George Krofa, declared as unconstitutional the continued stay in office by Chairman of Peace PROTOA Yaw Adogo since 2018 without organizing an election.

Allegations against Yaw Adogo, former chairman, for misappropriating over GH₵247,102.00 were, however, dismissed by the court for lack of evidence.

Following the court order pursuant to Article 13(C) of the Union's Constitution, some factions of members of Peace PROTOA, with immediate effect on June 28, 2024, claimed they voted by secret ballot and elected interim executives of the Union, deepening the misunderstanding in the Union.

The National Executives of PROTOA declared that election null and void, hence the new election held on Thursday.