The government is set to hold crucial discussions with transport unions today, February 11, over a proposed increase in transport fares due to the persistent rise in fuel prices.
This engagement follows growing concerns from both commuters and transport operators about the financial strain caused by fluctuating fuel costs and its impact on transportation services nationwide.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), one of the largest transport unions in the country, recently issued a statement indicating that the threshold for fare adjustments had been met due to consecutive fuel price hikes throughout January.
According to the GPRTU, the continuous rise in fuel costs, along with other operational expenses, has made it financially unsustainable for commercial drivers to maintain the current fare structure without an increase.
Speaking to journalists on Monday, February 10, Minister for Transport Joseph Nikpe Bukari assured the public that the government remains committed to engaging all stakeholders to reach a fair and balanced decision.
“Tomorrow, we will be engaging them, and so I wouldn’t want to say anything about them until I have fully engaged them. But they are cooperating,” he said.
Read Also: Church of England: No gluten-free bread or non-alcoholic wine for communion
The minister also expressed optimism that an agreement would be reached that benefits both transport operators and passengers.
“If you watch over the news portals, you will see that they have written to their colleagues to give us some time, meaning that we are in the process of having a better understanding as to how much they would charge our passengers.
“So we are talking with them. Tomorrow, we will continue and do not want to make anything public because they are not here. I have their trust that they will work with us, and we will get to some agreement or to some level that will be beneficial to all of us,” he added.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to determine whether transport fares will be adjusted and by how much, as stakeholders work towards a solution that balances affordability for passengers and sustainability for transport operators.
