The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has refuted allegations that transportation prices would increase beginning Monday, October 25, 2021.
The transport union’s leadership said it is continuing in discussions with the government about eliminating some of the taxes and levies placed on petroleum products.
Godfred Abulbira Adogma, General Secretary of the GPRTU, told in an interview that if the government does not listen to their appeal, the union would raise transportation prices.
“We have not said anywhere that lorry fares will be increased on Monday. We have tabled out certain things with the Ministry, but when the discussions fail, we will have no option than to adjust our fares to cushion us from the new prices of fuel.”
“So the issue of a specific date of Monday is something we are all surprised. Government should really look at the fuel taxes and remove them because it is not helping.”
Ghanaians want to see transportation costs reduced after the National Petroleum Authority (NPA)authorized the elimination of the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levies (PRSL) on petrol, diesel, and LPG for two months.
The GPRTU, on the other hand, has urged the public to be measured in their expectations for a decrease in transportation fares.
The union has accused the government of operating in bad faith despite contractual promises that fuel prices would be stabilized, resulting in the maintenance of transportation rates at least in the near term since they were last raised in June 2021.
Meanwhile, the GPRTU has said that it is preparing to meet with the government to discuss the succession of taxes placed on petroleum products.
Fuel prices have fluctuated in recent months, with the most recent change being a 2.59 percent rise, which industry participants have criticized.
On a related issue, the much-anticipated suspension of the tax in the price build-up of fuel at the pump has yet to take effect, even as the second pricing window begins, since Parliament has failed to provide the NPA the necessary approval to scrap the levy.
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