GPRTU to decide on transport fares Tuesday

The Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union (GPRTU) is scheduled to hold a meeting on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 to decide on transport fares given Saturday’s increase in fuel prices, an official has disclosed.

Speaking on TV3’s 7GMT on Monday, June 3, 2013, Alhaji Yaw Manu, National Chairman of GPRTU, noted that as far as there has been an increase in fuel prices, drivers are going to pay more on fuel purchase.

He, however, advised that the old fares should be maintained until a decision is announced by the Union after Tuesday’s Executive Council meeting.

It is widely believed that drivers will maintain the old fares as a result of the minimal percentage increase.

But Alhaji Manu rules out any such suggestions.

“If there is an increase you have to pay more, so how are you going to make money if you don’t increase the fare?” he asked.

“Banks are going to take their monies,” he said of loans taken by most drivers to buy cars.

“Once they have increased it and you have to add money to buy fuel, it will affect transport fares.”

Upward adjustments in fuel prices were announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) to take effect on Saturday with premium and diesel notching up 3 per cent.