Accra, Jan. 6, GNA – Mr Ohene Nyarko, Station Manager of Tudu Intercity State Transport Corporation (STC) Coaches Limited, has said the recent increment in fuel prices had affected patronage of their services.

He said STC management used to dispatch four 30-seater buses from Accra to Aflao but now due to the increment only two buses operate on the route.

Mr Nyarko said these in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) increased the prices of petroleum products with effect from Thursday, December 29, 2011, citing rising world oil prices and depreciation of the Cedi,

The NPA in a statement said the prices of petroleum products had gone up by 15 per cent at GHp175.48 per litre for petrol and GHp177.09 per litre for diesel while Liquefied Petroleum Gas had also gone up by 30 per cent at GHp136.19 per kilogramme.

Mr Nyarko noted that with such low patronage, STC was forced to combine Hohoe and Kpando passengers for easy accessibility.

He said STC increased its fares by 12 per cent, and that from Accra to Aflao was GH¢10 but now it is GH¢12.

Mr Nyarko advised travellers to patronise the STC buses for safe arrival at their destinations and said: “Initially the passengers were complaining about the price hikes but we envisage that with time they will be used to the new fares,”.

Mr Samuel Mensah, Secretary to Accra Kpando Progressive Transport Union, said the timing of the fuel increases was not appropriate since it was during the festive season where most people had planned their budget.

He said passengers used to pay GH¢8 as lorry fare from Accra to Kpando but now it has been increased to GH¢ 9.

Mr Jacob Wilson, a driver at the Metro Mass Transit Limited (MMTL), said management had not increased fares, making patronage high at their terminal.

He said the fare from Accra to Anum-Bosso was GH¢3.50 while the commercial vehicles charged GH¢ 4.50, Accra to Akosombo was GH¢2.50 and the commercial vehicles charged GH¢ 4.

The GNA observed that the MMT bus terminal at Tema station, Accra, was choked with long queues of travelers.

However, there were still mixed reactions to the increase in the fuel prices and transport fares when the GNA visited other terminals.