Ghanaians have been urged to exercise restraint and continue paying the old lorry fares until further notice by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
The U-turn came as a result of the drivers’ refusal to abide by the union’s order to lower the fares by 10% starting on May 17, 2023, on Wednesday.
Following consistent marginal fuel price decreases, the GPRTU announced the downward fare adjustment to provide some relief to users of public transportation after several fare increases since last year.
The decision to lower the fares was given, but commercial vehicle drivers have refused to do so, which has led to confusion among some drivers and their conductors and among passengers.
Abass Imoro, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union’s industrial relations officer, announced that the union’s executives will meet on Monday, May 22, to discuss possible solutions.
“There was a problem which came out with the reduction of 10%, so we said there should be a cease-fire. We are pleading with the general public to continue with the old fares till our leadership meets on Monday to look at the way forward,” citinewsroom.com quotes him as saying.
Commercial transportation companies frequently rush to raise fuel surcharges but are always reluctant to lower them when fuel prices fall.
Earlier on InsightNewsgh.com reported that commercial drivers were angry over the recent 10% reduction in transport fares following the decrease in fuel prices.
According to them, it doesn’t make sense for government to order them to reduce transport fares without first reducing the heavy taxes imposed on insurances and spare parts.
In a video obtained by InsightNewsgh.com on UTV page, some angry drivers descended on the leadership of Ghana Private Transport Union (GPRTU) for conniving with the government to reduce lorry fares without reducing the heavy taxes on spare parts.
In their submissions, they threatened to park their vehicles and stage demonstration to pour out their grievances to the government and their authorities.
Drivers angry over 10% reduction in transport fares #UTVNews pic.twitter.com/n9Ts27SaBj
— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) May 17, 2023
