Don’t increase transport fares – Road Transport Operators caution drivers

The leadership of Road Transport Operators has cautioned transport operators not to increase fares in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the group, the existing transport fares are to be maintained, urging all operators to adhere to the laid down procedures for the determination of transport fares.

The directive follows reports that some commercial drivers have arbitrarily increased their fares, a situation which contravenes the Administrative Instrument on the determination of Transport Fares in the country.

In a statement jointly signed by the National Chairman, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr. Kwame Kuma and the General Secretary of the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), Mr. Emmanuel Ohene Yeboah, the Road Transport Operators condemned the action of those flouting the regulations guiding the transport business in the country.

“Such actions are unfortunate and we strongly condemn it”, the statement read in part, stressing that “…there are procedures for the determination of Transport Fares in the country. One of the major items that is considered during a fare review is the price of petroleum products which have seen some reduction since the last Transport Fare increase in September 2019”.

In furtherance to the caution, the group is urging all transport operators, commuters and the general public to adhere to the precautionary directives on social distancing in all public transport vehicles and terminals since those protocols are still in force.

Among such protocols are: (1) All passenger-carrying vehicles seating 1-3 passengers on a row shall seat not more than 2 passengers on a row; (2) All passenger-carrying vehicles seating 1-4 passengers on a row shall seat not more than 3 passengers on a row; and (3) All passenger-carrying vehicles seating 1-5 passengers on a row shall seat not more than 3 passengers on a row.

In addition to that, the Road Transport Operators are urging all those in the commercial transport business to ensure that there is adequate running water and hand sanitizers at all transport terminals to enable passengers, drivers, and conductors to wash and sanitize their hands before boarding.

“The general public, drivers and conductors are also encouraged to wear a nose mask when boarding”, the statement in part noted.