Some commercial vehicle drivers say they prefer a reduction in fuel prices to the 13 per cent upward adjustment of public transport fares.

Some drivers, who spoke to the Daily Graphic at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, the 37 commercial bus terminal and at Madina, said the increment was “minimal” and would cause vehicle owners to demand more sales from them.

The 13 per cent increment takes effect from tomorrow.

The new fares cover intra-city commercial vehicles, popularly known as trotro, shared taxis and long-distance vehicles.

Interviews

David Ansah, a short distance taxi driver at Circle, said the government should rather focus on reducing or putting a stop to the incessant increment of taxes on fuel rather than increasing transport fares minimally.

“The 13 per cent is very small. For instance, if I am charging GH¢2.20 now over a distance, I will be charging GH¢2.50 when the new fares take effect, which is just 30 pesewas difference but the car owner does not care about this reality; all he cares about is that there has been an increment in fares so he will also demand for an increment in the sales I make for him,” he said.

He added that some passengers might decide to walk rather than engage the service of short distance shared taxis when the new fares take effect.

This, he said, had the potential to reduce their daily sales.

At the 37 bus terminal, Mr Hanson Blay, a driver and the Chairman of the local branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), supported the call, adding that “I would be glad if fuel prices are not increased as compared to the upward adjustment of transport fares. Personally, I am not happy about the increment of fuel prices because anytime that happens, we all bear the brunt of increased fuel prices because it affects almost everything we buy”.

He suggested that taxes on fuel should be discontinued, saying most traders always took advantage of the situation to increase prices of goods.

“The government should maintain the old fares and rather reduce fuel prices,” he said.

Disagree

Another driver at Circle, William Otu, however, disagreed with his colleagues.

While stressing that the increment was “small”, he insisted that they had no choice but to increase fares to break even given that the pump price had gone up, just like that of spare parts.

“Although the increment is minimal, it is better than no increment at all, so we will manage this in the interim to see if something could be done about it later in the future,” he said.

A passenger at the 37 bus terminal, who gave his name as Abeiku, said COVID-19 had already affected so many people, with some employers laying off some staff, arguing that the increment would make life worse.

He said the increment would have an impact on the cost of items, including food and thereby put additional stress on the finances of individuals.

At Madina, Mr Mensah Okoto said the increment was “too much” for him, adding that “we will resist it on Saturday; if not we will fight. Other than that I will rather walk”.

Increment

The Road Transport Operators last Wednesday sanctioned a 13 per cent increment in transport fares effective tomorrow.

The upward adjustment, the body said, was to accommodate the increase in the price of fuel in the country.

It said it was in line with the administrative arrangement of public transport fares and would affect all commercial vehicle operators.

Source: graphic.com.gh