The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has decided to suspend its planned 20% increase in transport fares, originally scheduled to take effect from January 24, 2024.
This decision comes after a meeting with the Transport Ministry to discuss the concerns raised by the union.
The GPRTU had initially proposed the fare hike, citing rising costs of spare parts and other essential logistics necessary for their operations, including the burden of increasing taxes. In response to the growing discontent among drivers, the union had set the fare adjustment in motion.
However, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli, intervened, urging all parties involved to engage in discussions to find a mutually agreeable solution.
Tampuli emphasized the need for constructive dialogue, stating, “So, this is just the tip of the iceberg, so sometimes it gets very heated in our meetings, but at the end of the day, we can come to a compromise. I believe on this occasion it would not be any different from what has happened in the past,” during a press briefing on January 18, 2024.
In response to the Deputy Minister’s call for dialogue, the GPRTU has decided to suspend the planned fare increase. In an official statement signed by GPRTU General Secretary, Godfred Abulbire, the union announced that its management and transport operators would engage in a stakeholder consultation with the Ministry of Transport on January 23, 2024.
The objective of this meeting is to comprehensively address the concerns raised by the union and explore possible solutions that would be acceptable to both parties.