Commercial transport operators in the country have formally put in a request for the Ministry of Transport to review public transport fares.
Their request has been necessitated by the increment in fuel prices, as well as the rising cost of maintaining their vehicles and doing business.
Fuel price increment
Petroleum prices rose marginally last Tuesday, with the increment affecting petrol, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Petrol is now selling at GH¢16.21 per litre, representing an estimated five per cent increase from the previous pump price of GH¢15.43, while diesel has risen to GH¢17.61 per litre, a 2.58 per cent increase over the previous mean price of GH¢17.17.
However, the government has announced that it will continue to absorb GH¢2 on every litre of diesel, an initiative it introduced last month when fuel prices were increased, and transport operators threatened to increase fares.
Engagement
In a joint statement, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) said the request was submitted “in line with the Administrative Instrument” governing the determination and review of public transport fares.
“This process forms part of the established consultative framework for determining and reviewing public transport fares, taking into account various inputs that go into the operations of commercial road transport services,” the statement said.
The GPRTU and GRTCC said engagements with the Ministry of Transport would commence soon and urged drivers, station masters, transport owners and the general public to remain calm and await the outcome of the process, emphasising that the outcome of the consultations would be communicated to the public in due course.
