Describing such reports as malicious, a statement from the operators said discussions were currently ongoing for a possible review of fares, but no decision has been taken.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DJL2v9FqfoKTRTXlYEsvUmTugeTr9mXM”]”We are alarmed by such false information being thrown around by some group of people who want to bring the reputation of the Association into disrepute. We want to assure the general public that there is no such increase and the information should not be entertained,” the statement said.

“We are by this statement appealing to our members to disregard the information and to comply with the existing fares so as to avoid any confrontation with the travelling public.”

On the possible review of transport fares, the statement said: “We have an arrangement with the Ministry of Transport to review transport fares periodically. We are currently in discussion with the Ministry and when we are ready, we will inform the general public accordingly.”

Transport fares were last increased in April 2017. Fares at the time went up by 15 percent.

Reports of increases in transport fares followed protests by some commercial drivers against what they described as the persistent hikes in the prices of petroleum products.

The demonstration was organised by the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers in collaboration with the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Trades Union Congress.

The prices of petroleum products are known to be a major determinant of transport fares.

Find below the full statement

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Transport operators have been advised to comply with the new fares, and “post the fare list at their loading terminals so as to avoid any confrontation with the travelling public.”

The statement further asked Ghanaians to cooperate with the implementation of the new fares.

These new fares come at a time when the new government has reduced the Special petroleum tax rate from 17.5 percent to 15 percent; and also abolished duty on the importation of spare parts.

The new fares cover the following types of road transport operations:

Intracity (Trotro)

Intercity (Long Distance)

Taxi Cabs

The increment comes days after the Transport Fare Review Committee of the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), asked all commercial drivers and transport owners to maintain the current transport fares until further notice.

The directive was issued after it emerged that some commercial drivers had increased their fares.

The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) General Secretary, Andrews Kwakye, told Citi News that the increment was illegal, saying “the practice is that, we come out with the official price of the road transport office. All that is happening in the system means that they [the new fares] are all illegal. They were not supposed to increase their fares without our consent.”

Transport fares are largely reviewed due to increases in the cost of petroleum products, cost of spare parts and insurance for vehicles among others.

The recent increase in fuel price in January 2017, was about 11%.

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The two sides have been meeting for more than a month for the annual review of fares, but a decision has delayed till the passage of the Appropriation Bill which was passed into law last Friday.

Some drivers some weeks ago increased transport fares due to the reported increases in the cost of fuel at the pumps, although the increment was not approved by the leadership of the transport unions.

The meeting today, Citi News understands, is expected to assess the impact of the passage of the Appropriation Bill and the gains of the cedi over the past days on the review of fares.

There were reports over the past month of arbitrary increases by some drivers without the consent of the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU).

The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), described as unfortunate reports of the increases in transport fares in Accra, and called on drivers who had reviewed the fares to stop.

The GPRTU also directed its members to halt charging the increased fares and asked all members to hold on until such a time that the union comes up with a final decision.

The union said it was in negotiations with the Ministry of Transport to decide on any increment in fares.

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The committee is scheduled to hold one of its bi-annual meetings on March 30, where a decision will be taken.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Yw0texLjpEsd71y8DUeCSN51HmTuPJCY”]Already, some commercial drivers have increased their fares, but the committee has said these increases are illegal and has asked commuters not to pay any new fares.

The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) General Secretary, Andrews Kwakye, told Citi News that, “the practice is that, we come out with the official price of the road transport office. All that is happening in the system means that they [the new fares] are all illegal. They were not supposed to increase their fares without our consent.”

In the meantime, the GRTCC has asked circuit operators and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), to check their drivers and call them to order.

“By now, the task-force from GPRTU must have moved to the various stations we have identified as having increased their fares, and they are going to work and probably let them come back to the old fares that they were charging,” Mr. Kwakye said.

He further assured that, the GRTCC was “doing some bit of enforcement to bring the situation under control.”

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The Council has also said sections of the 2017 budget will have a direct impact on the review of transport fares.

[contextly_sidebar id=”5OHlVk5Z6r18SHGeJfAqF3q5DRTXPqjK”]The General Secretary for the GRTCC Andrews Kwakye spoke to Citi News and revealed that the Council had been meeting with the Ministry of Transport which wants the GRTCC to wait on the passage of the Appropriation Bill before any decision on fares is taken.

“All that transpired in the meeting was that, there is a lot in store for transport operators in the 2017 budget and they are pleading with us saying that at the end of the Appropriation law being passed by Parliament, we will see clearly what is in there for transport operators,” he said.

The Akufo-Addo government’s maiden budget indicated the abolishment of all import duties on spare parts, a decision which may lead to a reduction in the cost of spare parts, a key factor in the pricing formula for transport fares.

Mr. Kwakye noted that “it is with very good reason we hold on until this Bill is passed then we take it from there. That is why we understand that we need to wait for, at least, the end of the month.”

GPRTU warns against unapproved fares

In the meantime, the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU) has directed its members not to increase transport fares.

This order followed reports of a 15% increase in transport fares in some parts of Accra.

The GPRTU, however, said it had not sanctioned any increment and that any drivers who increased fares did so on their own accord.

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This comes after numerous reports of a 15% increase in transport fares in some parts of Accra.

But according to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), it has not sanctioned any increment, and that any driver who increases his fare does so on his own accord.

The National Chairman of GPRTU, Kwame Kuma, told Citi News that, “if any driver has increased transport fares, then he has done so on his own accord. This country is governed by laws, and we have not made any announcement of an increase in transport fares. If we had, the media would have been the first to be informed. Transport fares will definitely be increased, but there is a formal process we have to go through before effecting any increases.”

He added that, the Union was in talks with government for a review of transport fares, but added that no concrete decision has been take yet.

“Just yesterday [Thursday], we were in negotiations with the Ministry of Transport and we are yet to take a decision.”

In a related development, the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), has described as unfortunate, reports of an increase in transport fares in parts of Accra.

According to the Council, no union has been authorized to increase fares. The General Secretary for GRTCC, Andrews Kwakye, told Citi News that drivers who have reviewed their fares must rescind their action.

“It is unfortunate that some stations have decided to do their own thing, and I want to state that the transport review committee has not increased fares as we speak.”

He said the council is currently holding talks the relevant bodies to discuss a possible increase in fares, but no agreement had been reached yet. He said transport fares were to be reviewed in January

“If we are reviewing the fares for 2016/2017 first quarter, that does not give them the right to increase. I believe they think we have delayed in coming up with approved fares that is why they are going about this. That is not acceptable,” he said.

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The Council said this will be in line with its convention of reviewing transport fares twice each year.

Andrews Kwakye, the General Secretary of the GRTCC, told Citi News the new fares if approved, will be fair to both government, the public and commercial drivers.

“As our practice has been, we reduce transport fares twice every year. We will call for a meeting that will look at the current fuel prices and we will follow it up with a meeting with the Ministry of Transport.”

“We don’t want to cheat the public, neither will we let government or the public to cheat the transport operators, we will go to the table, take our prices from the market and compare with inflation and all the other factors that determines our transports fares.”

The price of fuel, a major determinant of transport fares in the country, was recently increased by about 11%.

Citi Business News noted the price of a litre of petrol has gone up between 8 and 11 percent, while the same quantity for a litre of diesel, has gone up between 9 and 11 percent.

A litre of petrol at some major Oil Marketing Companies  (OMCs), is now selling between 4 cedis and 4 cedis 15 pesewas.

Also, the price of a litre of diesel could be sold between 4 cedis and 4 cedis 15 pesewas.

The last time transport fares were reviewed, was in January 2016 when it went up by 15%.

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