Concerned Drivers Association Suspends 15% Transport Fare Hike: "We Won’t Increase It Again"

• The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana has suspended a 15 percent increment in transport fares
• The Public Relations Officer of the association said they were wary about putting more pressure on Ghanaians
• The Ghana Private Road Transport Union, the most significant driver union, spoke against the proposed increment

The Concerned Drivers Association has suspended a planned 15 percent increment in transport fares.

The proposed increment was set to take effect on Monday, July 22, 2024.

The public relations officer of the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, David Agboado, told Citi News that the suspension was being done to protect the average Ghanaian.

“We, the transport operators, have sat together and do our own thing. We have come to the understanding that things have been increased… fuel, spare parts and everything is up, but this is not the time that we should increase the transport fare. That is why we have come together to say we won’t increase it again.

Read also

“I don’t care”: Former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo blasts SSNIT over botched Rock City deal

“If you ask me, transport fares will not be going up because we, the transporters, have understood ourselves,” he stated.

Giving further clarity to YEN.com.gh, Agboado, said his union will be doing further engagements on the possibility of raising fares.

He also said Ghana's forex challenges will likely inform their decision.

"We won't say there won’t be any increase. It could go beyond this month. It could even go beyond next month.” It depends on how the dollar performs."

In an earlier statement, the association attributed the proposed increase to the rising fuel cost and other essentials, such as spare parts for the transport business.

Agboado told YEN.com.gh that there had been no engagements with the state before deciding on the increment.

The largest driver union, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, had urged commuters to disregard the announcement.

Read also

Food suppliers threaten to pick Education Ministry if debt not paid

Transport fares were last increased on March 7, 2024, after similar concerns were reported by Joy News.

At the time, the Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council did not immediately favour the hikes.

Trotro drivers threaten fare hikes in protest

YEN.com.gh also reported that trotro drivers threatened to increase transport fares by 60 percent earlier in the year to protest some taxes.

The transport union was making the threat in response to the Emission Levy Bill, which took effect in January 2024.

The Emissions Levy Bill imposes an annual charge on all owners of petrol and diesel cars, which had drivers immediately upset.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh