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A 15 percent hike in transport fares announced by commercial drivers
last week will take effect Monday, June 22.
The transport fare increase followsthe latest increase in fuel prices
asa result of the partial implementation of the petroleum deregulation
policy.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and Road Transport
Coordinating Council announced the increment after meeting the
Transport Ministry last week.
Ben Kwasi Ansah, the National Trustee of the GPRTU, said the 15
percent increment was agreed upon after a long meeting with all the
stakeholders.
He added the free fall of the cedi against other major currencies has
also accounted for the increment.
"We took so many things into consideration, not only the fuel increase
but you may recall that the last time we increased transport fares was
last January and at that time the cedi to a dollar was two cedi to a
dollar but now the cedi to a dollar is over four cedis.
"When the cedi is falling like this itaffects everything including
spare parts", he stated.
The deregulation policy triggered a 4 percent upward adjustment in the
price of fuel last week, the third of such fuel price increases since
January this year.
Meanwhile, Employment and Labour Relations Minister Haruna Iddrisu
says cabinet is reviewing existing law on petroleum product pricing to
support a partial or full deregulation policy.
Some stakeholders in the petroleum sector have raised concerns about
the absence of a legal regime to guide the implementation of the
deregulation policy.
Credit: Myjoyonline.com
