There’s no justification to increase fares – Hassan Tampuli

Hassan Tampuli, the Deputy Minister of Transport, has stated that there is no justification for the increase in lorry fares.

The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana has declared a 15 percent rise in transport fares, set to take effect on Monday, July 22, 2024.

The association cites the escalating cost of fuel as the primary reason for this fare increase, with some oil marketing companies now retailing products at prices surpassing GH₵15.

Furthermore, the rising prices of essential items, such as spare parts vital for the transport business, have also contributed to this decision.

But Tampuli in a conversation with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Friday pointed out that the current petroleum prices do not warrant an increase in lorry fares.

“There hasn’t been any need for any adjustments in lorry fares currently…There is no justification for any attempt to increase transport fares as of today. If you recall sometime back price of petroleum products had gone back to about 23 before. Now lorry fares were adjusted accordingly. As of now, we have petroleum products going for about 14, 15 so there is no justification.”

“We are currently buying petroleum products for about 8 or 9 less than it had ever gone up to. So I am not too sure whether anybody can have any justification as to why we should have any [increment],” he stated.

In the meantime, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has advised Ghanaians to ignore the 15% increase in transport fares announced by the Transport Operators Association.

While GPRTU recognizes the impact of rising petroleum product prices on transportation costs, it insists that fare increases can only be implemented following proper stakeholder engagement, which has not yet taken place.

Consequently, GPRTU has instructed commercial transport operators to comply with the existing fares.

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