No reduction in fares despite fuel price reduction

Drivers in Koforidua have expressed their unwillingness to reduce lorry fares, despite the 15 percent reduction in fuel prices announced by the Ghana Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors (GCBOD) on Thursday.

According to some of the drivers who spoke in separate interviews with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Koforidua, even the filling stations were short-changing them by selling at different prices, instead of selling at a uniformed price.

Phillip Tetteh, a driver who runs from Koforidua to Klo-Agogo disclosed that, they use to buy a gallon of petrol at GH¢18, but after the announcement of the reduction, some petrol filling stations were selling a gallon of petrol at GH¢17 while others were selling theirs at GH¢15.50.

He asserted that even though the fuel prices were reduced, the reduction would not have any significant effect on the fares, as far as the cost of maintenance was concerned.

Phillip appealed to the government to check the activities of the filling stations in the country to ensure that fuel was sold at the stipulated price; adding that, “If that is done, we the drivers will also know how to budget our income.”

To Jones Ofori, a taxi driver, reduction in the fuel prices does not mean drivers should reduce the fares, explaining that, fuel prices have been increased twice without the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) increasing the fares until the third time.

He said whenever fuel prices went down, spare parts dealers did not reduce the prices of their wares, “and so I will not support the call for a reduction in fares.”

Another driver, Akwasi Ofori claimed reducing lorry fares would not help because of the high cost of maintenance, but was quick to add that drivers were waiting for the decision of the GPRTU.

Seth Ohene, a bus driver, expressed his gratitude towards the reduction of fuel prices, but as to how long that would last was another thing he was worried about.

Sampson Agyasi, a passenger, said he was paying the same fare that he used to pay, before the reduction of the fuel prices, and hoped the fares would be reduced, since fuel prices had decreased.