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Don’t reduce transport fares- Former GPRTU Secretary

Transport fares to drop by 15.3% effective December 19
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The immediate past Brong Ahafo Regional Secretary of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Richard Yaw Ankrah has justified the non-reduction of transport fares after the easing of restrictions on the number of passengers they carry.

According to him, prior to the announcement, transport operators were running at a loss, a situation which was worsened with the decrease in passengers they were allowed to pick as a result of social distancing.

He therefore maintained that the new directive is an opportunity to recoup some of the losses they incurred over that period. He was reacting to calls by some Ghanaians for a return to the previous transport charges existing prior to the outbreak of Covid-19 since commercial vehicles are now allowed to load up to capacity.

Transport fares were recently adjusted by 15 percent following a justification by transport operators that they were making losses because the COVID-19 protocol restricted them from loading to their full capacity. In his latest address, President Akufo-Addo eased restrictions covering transport operations allowing transport operators to go back to the previous arrangements of loading to full capacity. This has led to some Ghanaians calling for the previous fares to be restored.

However, speaking in an interview with Radio Ghana in Sunyani, the immediate past Regional Secretary of the GPRTU, Mr. Ankrah explained that such calls hinge on ignorance on the part of those calling for the restoration. He explained that there are various factors that influence transport fares including cost of insurance premiums, taxes and spare parts.

He claims that though the previous directive affected their finances they complied with it as a form of solidarity and sacrifice in this difficult time. He however welcomed the new directive saying they will now be able to heave a sigh of relief.

Mr. Ankrah also assured passengers that the GPRTU will not take advantage of them so they should understand and also comply to directives sanctioned by authorities.

Story filed by Lawrence Manu-Gyan.

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