Row over fares in K’dua

A ROW has developed between the New Juaben Municipal Assembly and the Koforidua-Accra Peugeot Drivers Association following the recent adjustment in the prices of petroleum products.

Peugeot drivers plying between Koforidua and Accra and Koforidua and Akuapem have unilaterally adjusted the fares above the approved levels.

While their leaders maintain that they are not bound by the 40 per cent increase in fares approved by the Ghana Road Transport Co-ordinating Council (GRTCC), the municipal assembly said their current fare of almost 90 per cent over what was charged in the past is unrealistic and unjustifiable.

The Municipal Chief Executive, Nana Adjei Boateng, said there is no justification for the drivers to use the payment of welfare dues and “chop” money as the basis for hiking the fares above the approved rates.

He warned that the assembly will not tolerate any fare adjustment above ?15,000 for Peugeot drivers plying between Koforidua and Accra.

Peugeot vehicles charge ?17,000 per passenger from Koforidua to Accra while those plying from Koforidua to Akropong charge $6,500. Previously, it was ?9,000 from Koforidua to Accra and ?3,500 from Koforidua to Akropong. Meanwhile, Urvan buses with three persons on a seat charge ?10,000 each from Koforidua to Accra while those with four on a seat charge ?9,000.

In separate interviews, the Koforidua-Accra Peugeot Branch Chairman, Mr Joseph Kofi Boateng, and the Chairman of the Koforidua-Akuapem Branch, Nana Siaw-Gyimah, maintained that since the inception of the Peugeot transport business, they have always charged higher rates than other commercial vehicles.

According to Mr Boateng, who is also the Eastern Regional Vice-Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), “we do not see the Peugeot business as part of the commercial vehicles but a kind of hiring,” adding that “there is a justification for the higher charges since their services are special and they also provide extra comfort to travellers”. He remarked, “You may choose to come to us if you want your comfort, or go for other commercial vehicles.” Mr Boateng, gave reasons for charging the almost 90 per cent increase in fares and said the 40 per cent cannot meet their operational cost.

He referred to expenditures such as income tax, station tolls, booking fees and other running costs which, he said, will make it impossible for them to break even if they agree to the 40 per cent adjustment.

He said the branch has written to the regional secretariat of the GPRTU on the issue and asked the travelling public to bear with it “if they want to travel in comfort”.

Nana Siaw-Gyimah, who claimed the fare of ?6,500 from Koforidua to Akropong is still not enough, stated that plans are underway to review the fares upwards to meet their operational cost and offer drivers an opportunity to earn a living. Nana Adjei Boateng acknowledged the fact that the Peugeot business provides express services and better comfort to passengers but disagreed that that should be the basis for charging exorbitant fares.