New transport fares are expected to be announced this week after the Ministry of Transport meets with the various transport unions on a proposed rate.
Citi News has gathered from some of the unions that they would make a case for an upward adjustment in transport fares to the Ministry.
Speaking to Citi News, the Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor said the unions would have to justify an upward adjustment before any approval.
[contextly_sidebar id=”xqxbu8EaUA9kYspSJwYXtc28fdSDXhJ7″]She explained that “we have an agreement with the transport operators, to review fares twice a year, that is, January and June. So we are expecting them to come for a meeting.”
“When we meet we will decide whether it will go up or it will come down but there are some factors we have to consider in reviewing transport fares; the currency fluctuations, inflation and all other market forces so when we meet we’ll decide what to do. And we don’t just accept what they bring, we negotiate. In the first place they have to justify why that percentage.”
Government in May, increased prices of petroleum products by 9 percent.
Petrol is now selling at GHc3.33 per litre while Diesel goes for GHc3.24 per litre.
A convention signed between government and transport operators allows the latter to increase fares only when petroleum products are increased by 5% and above.
But the Ministry of Transport had earlier insisted that despite the increment, fuel prices should not be increased.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana