The Drivers Union of Ghana has expressed their deep concerns over the deteriorating living conditions faced by commercial drivers in the country.
The union’s spokesperson lamented the fact that, due to the high cost of living and soaring fuel and petroleum prices, drivers are now finding it increasingly challenging to keep up with life, raise and sustain a family on their own.
In an interview on Happy 98.9 FM’s “Epa Hoa Daben” socio-political talk show, the spokesperson of the Drivers Union, Yaw Barimah indicated that the once-revered tradition of marrying a commercial driver in Ghana has now become a rare and unappealing phenomenon.
He said, “Any woman who marries a driver in this country is an extraordinary woman because our jobs have become extremely unappealing because of the high cost of living and the constant hike in fuel and petroleum prices. If you open your phone lines and allow our wives to call, you will be sad for the lives we live out here.”
“I’m worried for the younger drivers who are trying to make a living for themselves and start a family. Now no woman is confident enough to go for a commercial driver as a lifetime partner. Previously, women were so confident to marry commercial drivers because it had so many benefits and was appealing to everyone,”
The union’s concerns highlight the immense economic pressures faced by drivers, whose livelihoods are directly affected by fluctuations in fuel prices. The situation has become so dire that the very idea of marrying a commercial driver, which was once seen as a stable and viable option, has now become a distant dream for many.
This outcry from the Drivers Union comes in the backdrop of an impending crisis in the transport sector. The union has issued a warning that if the government fails to cut petroleum taxes within the next two weeks, they will be forced to implement a 20% fare hike.
The core of the coalition’s grievances lies in the burden of several taxes and levies, including the Sanitation and Pollution Levy, the Energy Sector Levy, the Energy Sector Recovery Levy, and the Special Petroleum Tax. These taxes have been widely criticized for their contribution to the escalating cost of transportation and the overall cost of living in the country.
The Sanitation and Pollution Levy, designed to fund environmental initiatives, has come under fire for exacerbating the financial strain on both drivers and consumers. Meanwhile, the Energy Sector Levy and Energy Sector Recovery Levy have faced heavy criticism for their role in driving up fuel prices, making it increasingly difficult for drivers to make ends meet.