Transport fares to reduce by 10% effective August 1

- Patrons of public transport will enjoy a 10% decrease in fares effective August 1, 2020

- This was announced after government lifted the restriction placed on transport operators due to COVID-19

- Transport operator increased fares by barely two weeks ago to make up for losses made due to COVID-19

- Our manifesto: This is what YEN.com.gh believes in

Commercial drivers in Ghana are expected to reduce their fares by 10 percent, effective August 1, 2020.

The latest development in the transport sector comes on the back of President Akufo-Addo's decision to lift the restriction placed on commercial vehicles in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

President Akufo-Addo announced on Sunday, July 26, that commercial buses and taxis are to load at full capacity.

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“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 in his address.

The decision to reduce transport fares was also led by Chamber of Petroleum Consumers Ghana (COPEC).

In a statement, COPEC 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.”

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COPEC added “We are, by this statement calling on some of our major stakeholders in the transport sector including the GPRTU, Concerned Drivers Association, Committed Drivers Association and the Ghana Road Transport Cordinating Council to immediately without fail, ensure that transport fares are reversed by close of day tomorrow, not only to previous rates but a further 5% reduction possibly on the previous rates before these recent increases since fuel price variance as at this point remains positive by at least a further 12% from the pre-covid-19 lockdown period.”

YEN.com.gh earlier reported that more than half of Ghanaians surveyed in the Ghana Election Poll do not think President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has fulfilled his promises well enough to deserve re-election as president of Ghana in the December 2020 presidential election, a Ghanaweb poll has suggested.

The first wave of results of the Ghana Election Poll conducted online via renowned market research firm, MSI-ACI, from May 1 through to June 30 found that 52% of the respondents are against the view that the president deserves another 4-year mandate based on fulfilled promises.

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Source: YEN.com.gh