Private Drivers Consider Fare Increase

MEMBERS OF some private commercial drivers’ organisations have announced they are considering a 20 per cent increase in lorry fares for commuters.

The associations and unions, comprising the Ghana Committed Drivers Association, International Drivers Road Transport Union, Truth Drivers Union, and Concerned Drivers Association, among others, which disclosed this in a joint statement, said the increase became necessary following recent taxes on fuel announced by government in this year’s national budget approved by Parliament.

According to them, a gallon of fuel which used to be sold at the pump for GH¢24.52 pesewas now went for GH¢27.22 pesewas while the prices of spare parts and DVLA charges had shot up considerably.

“With these developments, if we delay any further in increasing lorry fares by at least 20%, our transport business will collapse. We, therefore, wish to impress upon our customers and the general public to bear with us as we have also factored their financial situation into our calculations before arriving at the 20%. For the sake of our customers and the general public, we arrived at the 20% lorry fare increase by dividing 120 by 100 and multiplying it by the old or existing lorry fare.




“It is our considered view that we will only go by the decision to increase lorry fares twice a year if the powers that be can also ensure that prices of petroleum products and spare parts are not increased in the course of every year so as to guarantee stable prices and lorry fares,” they explained.

According to the drivers, they were not part of the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) which negotiated with government on new lorry fares.

Making reference to 2016, when a gallon of fuel for instance was between GH¢14.000 and GH¢16.00, they said since 2017, the prices have increased astronomically to the current GH¢27.22 pesewas but without any corresponding increases in lorry fares.

“We, however, acknowledge the brief reduction in fuel prices during the peak of the COVID-19 last year from GH¢24.00 to GH¢19.00. Since then the price returned to GH¢24.00 until the recent fuel taxes were imposed,” they noted.

Source:dailyguidenetwork.com