Tema drivers reduce lorry fares by 5 Ghana pesewas

Tema, Dec 16, GNA - Three days after the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) reduced fuel prices, drivers in the Tema metropolis have lowered lorry fares by five Ghana pesewas.

With the exception of the Metro Mass Transport (MMT), taxi and 'trotro' have adjusted their fares in accordance with directives from transport unions.

The NPA on Friday announced that premium petrol had been reduced from 99 Gp per litre to 82 Gp per litre, gas oil has dropped from 104 Gp to 89Gp per litre and a litre of kerosene now sells at 70 Gp. Prices of premix fuel, diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) have also gone down.

Officials at the MMT yard in Tema told the Ghana News Agency that they were charging their old fares since they were yet to receive directives from management.

They said MMT fares were not increased when transport fares were increased a few months ago when the prices of fuel went up. They said even though passengers complain about MMT's inability to reduce the fare, they still patronize their services since the fare is relatively lower than that of the 'trotro'. The MMT charges 70 Gp and 50 Gp from Tema to Accra and Madina respectively.

Mr Prince Mpere Larbi and Mr Edward Koranteng Narteh, chairpersons of the Biakoye Co-operative Society and the Tema Industrial area taxi local union respectively appealed to the government to reduce prices of other fuel products and spare parts. They said decrease in fuel prices alone should not be the only determinant in fixing transport fares because prices of engine oil, brake fluid and other petroleum products remain the same. They urged the government to ensure that traders reduce prices of food items.