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Transport fares to go up

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is set to adjust transportation fares upwards from next week.

The union said the increment is due to the lack of cooperation on the part of the government.

The Industrial Relations Officer, Abbas Imoro said they have been forced to make a decision because government has not cooperated with us.

In April, the Union asked government to scrap some taxes on petroleum products to cushion drivers and commuters, but President Akufo-Addo rejected the proposal.

The President said it will cost the nation ¢4 billion in revenue if that happens.

Reacting in an interview on an Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, the Industrial Relations Officer for GPRTU, Abass Imoro, said efforts to reach the Ministry have proven futile.

“We have been forced to make a decision. We were thinking of being sympathetic. We never wanted to take this decision, but government has not cooperated with us.

“Fuel prices keep shooting up, we wrote to the Transport Minister about our plans to increase transport fares, but we received no feedback. We are thus going to take a decision that will help us as well. We will announce the new prices by next week,” he said.

He, however, noted the union is currently conducting market surveys on the prices of spare parts among others as that will also influence the percentage increment will be pegged at.

Transport fares increased by 15 per cent in February 2022, when fuel prices averaged GH¢6.4 per litre.

A litre of fuel now sells around ¢10 after crossing the ¢8 per litre mark in the first week of March 2022.

The Union argues that the move has become necessary due to the increase in the prices of petroleum products.

Both commercial and private drivers and other stakeholders mounted pressure on government to scrap some taxes on fuel to cushion consumers.

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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