Transport fares to remain unchanged-- GRTCC

Accra, Nov. 1, GNA - The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) announced on Wednesday that transport fares should remain unchanged despite the reduction of fuel prices.

The Council took the decision at an emergency meeting held in Accra on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by Mr Alando Sidik, and Mr Matthew Hayford, Technical Committee members of the GRTCC. The statement said the meeting discussed the reduction of fuel prices and its impact on road transport.

"...Taking into consideration the cost of other inputs (the Council) felt the reduction in the price of fuel is very minimal and as a result decided that transport fares should remain (unchanged)," the GRTCC said.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on Tuesday announced new price ceilings for petroleum products that see a drop in the ex-pump prices of premium and diesel, an increase in the price of LPG, while that of kerosene remains unchanged.

Professor Ivan Addae-Mensah, Chairman of NPA, said the review followed decreases in the price of crude oil and discussions with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), which were expected to fix their own ex-pump prices with the maximum ceilings in mind.

The maximum price of premium petrol has been fixed at 35,609 cedis a gallon from 36,957 cedis while that of diesel is 34,686.70 cedis a gallon from 35,395.50 cedis.

Kerosene remains at 30,000 cedis a gallon while 14 kilograms of LPG would go up from 101,000 cedis to 106,000 cedis. The NPA reviews the prices of petroleum products every month and adjustments are made in ex-pump prices depending on how significant the changes are.

Ghana Telecom loses 480,000 dollars

Accra, Nov.1, GNA- Ghana Telecom (GT) has for the past 12 months lost 480,000 dollars through the willful destruction of its underground cables, Major Albert B. Don-Chebe (RTD), Head of Corporate Communications, made this known in Accra on Tuesday. He told the Ghana News Agency in an interview that Greater Accra, Ashanti and Central regions recorded the highest number of the incidence, which he described as deliberate sabotage from paid agents. "People just dig up the cables and slashed them without taking them away. Why should people risk their lives to destroy the cables without carrying them away if it not sabotage?" He asked.

" The company is under siege by powers and interests competing with GT. Recently we lost a big cable at the Accra Business District serving over 1,000 important corporate organisations.

Major Don-Chebe said such acts of sabotage was affecting the ability of the company to expand at the time when competition in the industry was very keen.

To stem the tide, the company is sealing the over 42,000 chambers nationwide with concrete, making it very difficult for GT technicians to repair cable faults promptly.

He said GT was in close contact with the security agencies to arrest the culprits, whilst Management had also instituted an Anti Cable Theft Campaign.

Major Don-Chebe said five million cedis was being offered for people who give information for the arrest of the culprits and 10 million cedis leading to arrests.

He said so far 11 members of staff of GT had been arrested for destroying the cables.

On a positive note, he said GT had introduced a Broad Band Service at the lowest rate of 600,000 cedis a month for a full time INTERNET connectivity.

Major Don-Chebe said the company hope expand the number of customers from 5,000 to 10,000.

He said GT would extend the Broad Band service to Kumasi and Tamale soon.