Road Transport Operators Announce 15% Increase In Transport Fares

Ghanaians are in for a banger as public transport fares are going up 15% from Saturday, February 26, 2022.

The fares are likely to be hiked again in the next few months as international prices of crude oil begin a steep climb following the potential disruption in the crude oil supply chain following a possible military offensive between the West and Russia over Vladimir Putin’s sly move to annex Ukraine.

The ripple effect and the fact that the Ghanaians government has infused obnoxious taxes into the price build-up is already being felt hard by the transport operators in Ghana who released a statement announcing their 15% increment, which they say is a compromise that they managed to with the government.

“In line with the administrative arrangement on public transport fares, the Road Transport Operators after intense negotiations with stakeholders and in consideration of the plight of drivers, commuters and the general public, have agreed to increase public transport fares by 15 percent,” the private transport operators wrote.

The statement is signed by Mr. Godfred Abulbire. General Secretary of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and Mr. Emmanuel Ohene Yeboah, General Secretary of the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council.

The transport owners claim they have been forced to increase fares because of hikes in fuel prices.

Earlier the transport unions had proposed a 30% upward adjustment, but after a meeting with stakeholders on Monday, they agreed to increase the fares by 15 percent.

Over the past few weeks, there has been a consistent increase in the price of fuel at the pumps, a situation many drivers have described as insensitive.

The fares cover shared taxis, intra-city buses (tro-tro) and intercity long-distance vehicles.