Transportation costs will be reduced by 15.3% starting today, according to road transport operators. The revised rates apply to haulage, intercity (long distance), intra-city (trotro), and taxis. According to the transport companies, the choice was made as a result of the drop in petroleum product costs.
In a press release jointly signed by Mr. Godfred Abulbire, general secretary of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), and Mr. Emmanuel Ohene Yeboah, general secretary of the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), this information was released in Accra last Friday. A copy of the press release was also sent to the Ghanaian Times.
In the following pricing window that day, diesel was anticipated to be offered at GH 15 per liter, while the cost of gasoline was also anticipated to decrease. Engaging stakeholders to consider revisiting the rates by an administrative instrument was necessary due to the recent drop in the price of fuel products.
Recall that, following protracted negotiations with stakeholders, a 19% increase in public transportation fares went into effect on October 29, 2022. Similarly to that, many discussions with stakeholders were held to determine an acceptable degree of fare decrease commensurate with the current fuel prices.
The transport companies decided to cut the current transportation fares by 15.3% as a result of these discussions and in consideration of the hardship of drivers, commuters, and the general public. The announcement pleaded with commercial transportation providers to abide by the new rates and publish copies at their loading terminals.
“We further request all operators,commuters and the general public to kindly cooperate for the sucessful implementation of the new fares,” the statement said.
A related development was the announcement by the Ministry of Transport that it had bargained with transport operators to lower the fares to a level that would benefit both passengers and transport operators. Mr. Ofori Asiamah, the minister of transportation, stated that he thought “the drop in the transit fare will bring some respite to commuters, who have for some time now bore the brunt of growing prices of petroleum products.”
