Fuel price causes confusion between drivers and passengers

Takoradi, Jan. 4, GNA - Fuel price increase announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on Monday has created confusion between some passengers and drivers in Sekondi-Takoradi.

Some taxi and 'trotro' drivers have displayed provisional transportation fares even though the national head office of the GPRTU had not announced new fares.

Mr. Jules Joseph Rigglet, the Takoradi-Sekondi Trotro branch Secretary of the GPRTU, told the GNA that the station had asked the drivers to charge provisional transportation fares since the fuel filling stations had also increased fuel prices.

He said the branch came up with provisional fares as a result of pressure and complaints from drivers that they would incur loses if they continued charging the old fares in view of fuel increases which had taken immediate effect.

"How do you expect the drivers to continue charging the old fares whilst they buy the NPA's new prices at the filling stations?" he asked. A visit to some fuel filling stations in the twin-city showed that while the new charges had been computed in the machines it had not be displayed on notice boards.

A litre of diesel is selling at GHc1.534p whilst super is also selling at GHc1.520p per litre. A gallon of diesel sells at GHc6.91p and super also goes for GHc5.64 per gallon at the Market Circle Total filling station. Some fuel filling stations had displayed 93No fuel" inscription at their premises whilst some are selling fuel to their creditors and loyal customers only.

Most workers said the sharp increase has come as a surprise explaining that they have not yet been hooked to the Single Spine Pay Structure.