A leading member of the Concerned Drivers Union, Mr. Yaw Barima says nothing would stop them from increasing the transport fares since the government has not been truthful with their pricing of the fuel products.

He said the government keeps increasing fuel prices while expecting them to stabilize transport fares at the detriment of the transport operators.

Mr. Yaw Barima’s statement comes on the back of a statement from The Ministry of Transport directing the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to look out for any commercial driver who has resorted to charging new transport fares outside the existing one, thereby, putting undue burden on commuters. In a statement signed by its Public Relations Unit and released in Accra on Sunday, April 14, 2024, the Ministry said negotiations for new public transport fares are still ongoing with the Road Transport Operators following the recent increase in fuel prices and other related operational cost.

It, therefore, wants the commercial drivers to continue charging existing public transport fares as directed by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of TUC and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC). Anyone who goes contrary to this directive, it added, will face the full rigours of the law.

But speaking to SOMPA NEWS, Yaw Barima maintained that they have already started increasing the fares just as the government has been increasing petroleum prices without consulting them, adding that the various meetings they have held with the government on transport fare increment has failed to bring solutions in most cases.

Meanwhile a meeting between the Ministry of Transport and the Driver Unions to decide on the percentage of increase last week Wednesday has been cancelled since the Minister was outside the country. The meeting is expected to be held on Wednesday, 24^th April, 2024.

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