Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana, COPEC has accepted the 10% reduction in transport fares by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, GPRTU.
The Executive Director of COPEC-Ghana, Mr Duncan Amoah in an interview with Asempa FM’s Ekosiisen said they have accepted the reduction and applauded the goodwill shown by the transport unions.
He said they will by Saturday monitor the progress of implementation.
GPRTU today announced a reduction in transport fares by 10% effective August 1, 2020.
This was confirmed by the National Chairman of the GPRTU Kwame Kumah.
According to him, drivers who also charge their own fares are warned. He further indicated that police will arrest drivers who failed to adhere to the safety protocols.
COPEC has yesterday called on commercial transport operators to with immediate effect reduce transport fares which were increased last month.
COPEC charged the GPRTU, Concerned Drivers Association, Committed Drivers Association and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council to immediately hold a meeting and reverse the decision to increase fares.
COPEC’s call come on the back of President Akufo-Addo announcing in his 14th COVID-19 address that commercial buses and taxis are to load at full capacity.
“In consultation with the Ministries of Transport and Aviation and the leadership of transport operators, Government has taken the decision to lift the restrictions in the transport sector, and allow for full capacity in our domestic airplanes, taxis, trotros and buses,” the President said.
Commercial transport owners were not filling their vehicles to full capacity and that was affecting their sales because fuel prices saw an increase.
They had a meeting with the government and came to a consensus that since they are not filling the vehicles to full capacity they would increase the fares by 15% which the government agreed.
COPEC in a statement explained that the President’s directive means revenue which was being lost by the commercial drivers will be restored hence the need to reduce transport fares.
“What this directive means is that every revenue that until date has been losing per trip by the commercial transport operators before the announcement during the period and for which commuters have recently been forced to cough up additional 15-30% transport fare increases is now restored in favour of our commercial transport operators and thus the recent increases of between 15-30% must and should be reversed forthwith.”
