The Managing Director of State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea, has called for a review in the 15 per cent increase in transport fares agreed upon by transport operators and the ministry.
According to him, the 15 per cent upwards adjustment was not enough since the rate at which fuel prices increased was affecting their businesses.
Nana Akomea said this during an interview with Accra-based radio station, Peace FM, monitored by the Ghanaian Times in Accra yesterday.
He said the fuel price hikes which computed to about 48 per cent over the last year had come without the commensurate increase in fares.
“From the period of May 2020 to 2021, fares have been increased to 13 per cent. In that period fuel had gone up to 48 per cent. And since then there has not been any adjustment. So in a situation like this, it becomes worrying since it hinders the transport business,” he added.
Considering the disparity between the rate of fuel increment and transport fare increment, Nana Akomea wished the 30 per cent increment in transport fares proposed by transport operators was sustained.
He, however, called for a consensus among the transport operators and the government to consider a further adjustment.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has stated that fares would increase by 15 per cent effective Saturday, February 26, 2022.
In a statement, the GPRTU said the new fares affected all forms of transport, including intra-city (trotro), intercity (long distance) and shared taxis.
Earlier, members of the Private Commercial Transport Operators had served notice to the commuting public that it would increase transport fares by 30 per cent.
The transport operators said their members should implement the directive from February 18, 2022, but that did not materialise.
BY VIVIAN ARTHUR
