Transport operators will hold talks with the Ministry of Transport on Tuesday, July 28, over a proposed 30 per cent increase in fares, citing rising fuel prices and escalating vehicle spare‑part costs that have strained their operations. The meeting comes after transport unions pressed for an upward review, arguing that current operating expenses have become unsustainable.
Unions are expected to present their concerns and negotiate measures with government officials to ease the sector’s challenges. Meanwhile, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has urged the reintroduction of the fuel price intervention applied during the Middle East crisis, noting that it previously cushioned operators, motorists, and businesses by lowering pump prices.
COPEC warns that with diesel now approaching GH¢18 per litre, further increases could deepen the financial burden on transport operators and commuters alike. Would you like me to condense this further into a crisp news brief or keep the fuller explanatory style for a feature piece?
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Samuel Amoah, disclosed this in an interview with Citi FM ahead of the meeting. He said the unions would engage the government and, if no immediate solutions were found to address the rising cost of petroleum products, they would present their proposed fare adjustment for negotiation.
“If they believe there is nothing they can do about the high cost of petroleum products, we will lay our proposed percentage on the table for negotiation. Whatever agreement we reach, we will communicate to our members,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, also appealed to the government to restore the fuel intervention, recalling that the previous measure reduced diesel prices by GH¢2 per litre and petrol prices by GH¢2.09 per litre when fuel costs surged.
Source: myjoyonline.com
