The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has said its proposed 30% increase in transport fares is still under discussion, rejecting claims that the plan has been suspended.

The union said no agreement has been reached with the government to put the proposed increase on hold.

GPRTU proposed the 30% fare increase following recent increases in fuel prices and the rising cost of vehicle spare parts and maintenance.

Transport fare increase put on hold after government talks with GPRTU

The clarification follows comments by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) suggesting that the planned fare increase had been put on hold after discussions between the government and transport operators.

However, GPRTU Deputy Public Relations Officer Samuel Amoah said the union’s last meeting with the Ministry of Transport ended without a final agreement.

According to him, discussions on the proposed increase are expected to continue at another meeting with the Ministry on Tuesday, September 22.

“There has never been any agreement with the government that we are suspending our proposed increment,” Amoah said.

He explained that the union met with the Transport Minister last Friday to discuss the proposed 30% increase, but the meeting ended without a conclusion.

“We were still negotiating the 30 percent increase, but there wasn’t any conclusion, so prior to that we were asked to postpone the meeting to Tuesday, September 22,” he said.

He stressed that the union had not abandoned its demand for higher fares.

Meanwhile, GPRTU has directed its members not to join a sit-down strike by the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA).

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The strike, which begins today, is linked to concerns over the rising cost of vehicle maintenance.

GPRTU said its members should continue operating while the union engages the government over the proposed fare adjustment.

DR/MA

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