Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has advised its members not to implement any fare increases until negotiations with the government on the proposed 20% fare hike are concluded.
This advice comes after a meeting between the union and the government failed to reach a resolution. Initially, the union had threatened a 60% fare increase but later agreed to a 20% increment.
Abass Moro, the Industrial Relations Officer of the Union, has urged transport operators to maintain their current fares while ongoing discussions with the government continue.
“We made our grievances known, and they also told us their side. Finally, we have to go back and have another meeting. We will use your medium to tell our people [drivers] that where we have got to, we are pleading that they should still maintain what we are taking for now until we come out very clearly.
“So that nobody will say drivers are taking advantage of them. It’s our business that we are trying to defend,” Mr Moro said on Citi News.
The Emissions Levy Bill, recently approved by Parliament, mandates an annual fee of GHC100 for owners of both petrol and diesel cars, effective January 2024.
The government presented this tax bill in Parliament with the aim of encouraging the adoption of environmentally friendly energy sources for vehicle propulsion.
This move aligns with the government’s commitment to fostering climate-friendly measures and mitigating carbon emissions. In light of these changes, the GPRTU has submitted a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, requesting a reassessment of the Emission Levy Bill.