Mr. Ernest Kumi, the New Patriotic Party‘s 2020 parliamentary nominee for the Akwatia constituency in the Eastern Region, has supported the order requiring commercial drivers to retain existing transport rates.
Despite the rise in fuel prices and other factors, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) have urged commercial drivers not to raise fares until the matter is resolved.
According to Mr. Kumi, the move is “correct and necessary.”
According to him, the order would protect commuters from being taken advantage of.
Mr. Kumi said on Citi TV’s Breakfast Daily on Thursday, May 6, 2021, that the directive would allow stakeholders time to develop well-thought-out fares.
“I believe it is only fair that as fuel costs rise, transportation owners raise their fares accordingly, but I also believe that the path taken by different transportation owners is equally appropriate. Previously, as these occurrences happened in terms of spikes in gasoline rates, private transportation operators charged their own fees, even at the detriment of the citizenry. So, if both unions and stakeholders say, “Hold on before they come up with a consistent price that can be paid around the different transport stations in the city and across the country,” I believe it is fair and proper for all of them to comply.”
The Concerned Drivers Association had previously warned that its members’ fares would be increased by 40% beginning Monday, May 10, 2021.
According to David Agboado, a spokesperson for the Concerned Drivers Association, rates will continue to rise due to a variety of reasons, including the expectation of a general spike in the cost of fuel on the global market in the coming weeks.
“The OMCs have their own margin that they will announce later because we know that the world market price will skyrocket soon.” The first window will open, and when it does, it will be more than the 27 cedis [paid for a gallon of fuel], but we’ll stay with the 40 percent we’ve decided on. It will take effect on Monday,” he said.
However, in a joint statement released by the GPRTU and the GRTCC, they were asked not to do so until further notice.
Negotiations have also started, according to the unions, to establish an “appropriate fare change satisfactory to both transport providers and the public.”
“As a result, we implore both transportation carriers and the general public to continue to use the same rates and ignore any alleged declaration of a fare rise before a new fare is announced.”
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SOURCE: ATLFMONLINE
