We Wanted 50% Increment, Not 15% - GPRTU

The National Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has said the recent 15% increment in transport fares announced by the Transport Ministry, was below drivers' expectations.

Mr. Kwame Kumah said the outbreak of the coronavirus disease compounded with recent spikes in fuel prices has had a massive impact on commercial transport drivers.

According to him, the Union had reached out to the Ministry of Transport for a 50% increment in transport fares to reflect the current fuel prices.

However, their initial plea was unattended as the negotiations halted.

He mentioned that the 15% increment in fares is entirely different from what they reached out to the Ministry for.

Mr. Kumah explained that the recent increment is to support commercial drivers for the loss made in implementing social distancing protocols in their vehicles, by cutting down passenger intake.

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“We sent a petition to the Ministry and the government to support drivers amid the scourge of the coronavirus outbreak. We told them we wanted a 50% increment in transport fares.

"The Ministry told us to take into consideration the impact the disease has had on all major sectors of the economy to reduce our bargain".

So from the negotiations, we arrived at 15%. If you ask, the increment is not due to fuel prices, rather our implementation of social distancing protocols” he said in an interview on Rainbow Radio today [July 9, 2020].

Transport fares have been increased by 15 percent, effective Saturday, July 11, 2020.

Deputy Transport Minister, Titus Glover in an interview said government took the decision in acknowledgment of the impact the Covid-19 pandemic has had on drivers.