The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has revealed that it has no plan of reducing transport fares despite the recent reduction in fuel prices.
This comes after a group, Association of Passengers in Ghana (APG) recently released a press statement calling on the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) and the Ministry of Transport (MoT) to immediately reduce transport fares to reflect the current market prices of petrol and diesel.
They argue that, “although prices of petrol and diesel had recently been reduced, it is unfair that GRTCC has not made changes to the current public transport fares.”
“Our checks from some energy institutions such as COPEC and the IES have revealed that the fuel prices will further decline in the coming days, hence our call,” a press release signed by the convenor of the Association, Afia Kwarteng Asamani had noted.
But speaking to the media on Tuesday, December 6 the Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, Abass Moro, said the recent reduction of fuel prices is not enough justification to reduce transport fares as prices of vehicle spare parts are on the rise.
However, he added that should there be any increment in fuel prices, the transport union will increase transport fares.
According to him, the GPRTU will only consider reducing transport fares if a litre of fuel is sold at GHC10.00.
“If any member of the public is expecting a reduction in transport fares following the recent reduction in fuel prices, that person should forget it for now. The public should rather appeal to the government to reduce fuel prices to GHC 10.00 per litre, which will at least be reasonable. When that is done, then there will be some reduction in transport fares.
The Institute of Energy Security had earlier projected a reduction in prices between 10 percent and 8 percent from Thursday, December 1, 2022.
The projection, made by the Institute of Energy Security (IES), will be the second consecutive period that will see consumers witness a reduction in the price of petrol and diesel products.
Meanwhile, Goil is selling diesel at GH¢18.86 from GH¢20.50 and petrol at GH¢15.41 from GH¢16.82.
Total filling stations also sell diesel at GH¢18.85 and petrol at GH¢15.40.
Source: The Independent Ghana