Drivers refuse to accept 30% fare increase.

Tema, Jan. 18, GNA- New fuel prices announced on Friday, has slowed down transportation in the communities and the few that are working, have increased their fares by 100 percent above the old fares.

From Tema community one to Ashaiman, trotro fare has raised to 1,500 cedis instead of 700 cedis, while community one to Newtown has gone up to 1,000 cedis instead of 500 cedis for trotro and 1,500 cedis instead of 900 cedis for taxis.

From community one to community four, taxis charge 1,500 cedis instead of 800 cedis, to community seven, eight and nine. Drivers plying Tema to Accra Circle/Tema station charge 2,500 cedis instead of the old fare of 1,400 cedis, Tema to Kumasi is now 25,000 cedis instead of 16,000 cedis.

Some passengers travelling to Tamale in the Northern Region today had to abandon their journey because the drivers were charging 120,000 cedis instead of 45,000.

STC's fare remained 27,000 cedis to Kumasi and 22,000 cedis to Takoradi, however, it increased its fares by 4,000 cedis before the Christmas and the ticket seller said she could not tell how much the fare will be on Monday.

In an interview with the GNA, Miss Augustina Ahen, a pawpaw seller from Tema Newtown said the drivers refer passengers to go to the government to demand their answers to the new fare increases, adding they have decided not to heed to the 30 percent fare increase across board as announced by government. A number of people who decided to travel had to stop because of the new fares.