Fuel prices have been in the headlines frequently since the cost soared in the first half of the year. In June, the national average hit $5 per gallon. Some parts of the country even saw prices of over $6 per gallon.

The good news is that prices have declined during December.

Diesel and Petrol prices decreased sharply in December by 26 cedis and 14 cedis respectively for mid-December, 2022.

While international product prices are having a mixed impact on fuel prices, the stronger cedi is contributing positively to all fuel prices. Fuel prices for December have been adjusted and have seen a decrease.

However, transport operators have refused to adjust and decrease transport fares.

Mallam Sumaila Boakye, the Ashanti Regional GPRTU Chairman tells Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye in an interview that, fuel hikes affect not only transport fares but other commodities and can't decide to reduce the prices of transport fares if other commodities have not.

“Does fuel increment affects only transport fare, no it affects everything, that includes spare parts, have they also decreased the prices?”, he questioned.

He further said spare parts remain intact with their price increment since the hikes in fuel prices and until a consensus with all stakeholders, the GPRTU cannot do anything about the transport decrease.

Upon further probe by the host as to when they have targeted to decrease the transport fares, he said, there's a need for transport owners, spare parts dealers, and all stakeholders to come to terms of an agreement before they will consider a reduction.

He said this in an interview with Sompa Tv socio-political morning show on Wednesday, December 7th, 2022.

Author: Eric Murphy Asare
Source: www.sompaonline.com