Effective Monday June 4, 2018, transport fares will be increased by 10 per cent the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced .

According to the National Vice-President of GPRTU, Robert Sarbah, the decision was taken in consultation with other stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport,before arriving at the new fares after factoring the rising cost of fuel into their pricing.

He said the prices of spare parts and other transport-related services have also gone up, justifying an increase in fares.

Two transport Unions, the True Drivers Union and Concerned Drivers Union, early on made the announcement stating that their members can no longer bear the rising cost of fuel and its impact on the transport business hence the decision to pass it on to passengers.

There were earlier reports of increases in transport fares in 2018, which were followed by protests by some commercial drivers against what they described as the persistent hikes in the prices of petroleum products.

The demonstration was organised by the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers in collaboration with the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU) of the Trades Union Congress.

According to the GPRTU, the increment is necessary following the constant increases in the prices of vehicle spare parts.

This was despite the government, in 2017, scrapping import duties on some selected spare parts following a campaign promise in the 2016 general elections.