Concerned Drivers Association suspends 15 percent fare increase: “We will not increase it again”

• The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana has suspended a 15 percent increase in transport tariffs
• The association’s public relations officer said they were cautious about putting more pressure on the Ghanaians.
• The Ghana Private Road Transport Union, the main drivers’ union, spoke out against the proposed increase

The Concerned Drivers Association has suspended a planned 15 percent fare increase.

The proposed increase would come into effect on Monday, July 22, 2024.

Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana public relations officer David Agboado told Citi News that the suspension was to protect average Ghanaians.

“We, the transport companies, sat down and did our own thing. We came to the understanding that prices have been increased… fuel, spare parts and everything else have become more expensive, but now is not the right time to increase transport prices. That’s why we joined forces and said we will not increase them again.”

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“If you ask me, transport prices will not rise because we transport companies have understood each other,” he explained.

In an earlier statement, the association had attributed the planned increase to rising fuel prices and other essential goods such as spare parts for the transport industry.

Agboado said YEN.com.gh that there were no negotiations with the state before the decision on the salary increase was made.

The largest drivers’ union, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union, had urged commuters to ignore the announcement.

Transport tariffs were last increased on March 7, 2024, after Joy News reported similar concerns.

The Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council were not directly in favor of the increases at the time.

Trotro drivers threaten to raise fares in protest

YEN.com.gh It was also reported that trotro drivers threatened to increase fares by 60 percent earlier this year in protest against certain taxes.

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With this threat, the transport union responded to the emissions tax law, which comes into force in January 2024.

The draft emissions tax bill imposes an annual tax on all owners of petrol and diesel vehicles, which immediately caused anger among motorists.

Proofread by Bruce Douglas, Senior Editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh