Ghanaians participating in the country’s required service, National Service Scheme (NSS)Â believe they are the most affected by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union’s 20% increase in transport fares on May 7.
Christian Yalley expressed his dissatisfaction with the fact that transportation consumes more than half of his monthly allowance of GH559.04.
Due to the nature of his profession, he commutes from Legon to Kokomlemle every weekday and occasionally on weekends. He used to pay GH4 to get from Legon to Kwame Nkrumah Circle, but now he has to spend GH5.
He should typically pay GH4.80 as the new fare to reflect the 20% increase.
“Now when you move from Circle to Legon, you pay GH6 instead of GH5. I used to pay GH9.00 daily for transportation but now it is GH11. This has really become a fly in the ointment for me and it is the same with other NSS persons.â€
Based on the number of days he works in a month, he spends about GH330 on transportation.
Christian now has GH229.04 to spend on food, health, and emergencies.
“That is really biting hard considering the meager allowance we receive as National Service Personnel.â€
Another NSS source, who asked to remain anonymous, expressed concern about the deteriorating situation.
Kojo (not his real name) spends nearly GH20 to go from Kotobabi to his workplace in Korle-Bu and back. He crosses the GH20 threshold due to an unforeseeable situation.
Working 20 days in a month means devoting GH400 on transportation, leaving him with less than GH200 to live on.
They believe that an increase in the allowance offered to NSS workers would be sufficient to protect them from the country’s exorbitant living costs.
“One way this could be rectified is increasing the allowance. If a GH100 or GH200 is added to the existing GH559 that we take, that could cushion most of us.
GPRTUÂ previously urged Ghanaians to understand why they had to raise transportation fares by 20%.
The rise in transportation expenses, according to Mr. Godfred Abulbire, the Union’s General Secretary, is intended to allow Union members to pay the cost of maintenance and service supply while reducing the effects of rising fuel prices.
Mr Abulbire claimed that the pricing may have been higher, but leadership chose not to take into account the rise in spare component prices and insurance company fees.
“Most of our members from the regions, drew our attention to the fact that we should let them charge 20 per cent for the fact that most of the citizens are not (in the best position). Leadership understood that and readdressed them to increase by 20 per cent. We are limiting our increment based on fuel. Our fares being increased by 20 per cent is fair,†he told Citinews.
Source: The Independent Ghana