They say as has always been the situation, the increment will have an impact on the cost of items, including food, and thereby put an additional burden on their finances.

However, some drivers insist they have no choice but to increase fares to break even, given that the pump price of fuel has gone up, just like that of spare parts.

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

The last time fares were increased by the GPRTU was in January 2018.

Interviews

Majority of passengers the Daily Graphic spoke with at the La Paz, Adentan, Madina, Spintex, the 37 Hospital lorry stations, as well as lorry parks at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, all in Accra, agreed with drivers that the price of fuel had gone up, but “unfortunately, we the passengers and ordinary Ghanaians will bear the brunt of increased transport fares”.

“Apart from paying the new fares, food will also become expensive, as food vendors and those involved in the food supply chain will all pass on the cost of transportation to consumers,” Kwame Osei Akoto, a passenger at the Kaneshie Lorry Station, told the Daily Graphic.

“I foresaw this coming a long time ago when the value of the cedi started falling and not much was done about it. The drivers complained about the cost of spare parts and fuel and so they have no choice. Understandably, they need to make profit, but I think the timing of the increment is not good,” a passenger at the 37 Hospital Lorry Station, Nii Ayitey Armah, said.

Madam Afua Bene, a food vendor near the VIP Station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, also expressed worry over the development.

“It was obvious the increment would happen because since fuel prices were increased, the prices of items have also gone up. I am a single mother who live at Medie and come to town every day with my three children who attend school in Accra.

“I don’t know how much the new fare will be, but this month and next month will be a bit difficult for us. My first child has just been admitted to senior high school and I have spent some money getting his school needs. I had earlier made some provision for our transport fares for the month and so it means I will have to adjust now, following the new fares,” she said.

New fares

According to some drivers, Circle-Spintex fare, which was GH¢4, for instance, would now be GH¢4.50, while Circle-Nsawam fare would increase to GH¢3.30 from GH¢3.

A bus conductor at Circle who gave his name as Sammy complained about the incessant increases in fuel prices by oil marketing companies (OMCs), saying the increases usually resulted in tension among the GPRTU, station masters, drivers and passengers.

He advised passengers to endeavour to carry smaller denominations of the cedi on them and insist on paying the right fares to avoid being cheated by some unscrupulous drivers’ mates.

“Some drivers and their mates would want to take advantage of the situation and charge their own fares. I advise passengers to find out about the fares which will be displayed at the various stations and also carry coins and smaller denominations on them, so that they would not be taken advantage of,” Sammy added.

Background

The GPRTU last week announced a 10 per cent increase in transport fares, effective today, Monday, September 16, 2019.

The union, in a press statement, explained that the increase was to make up for the upward adjustment in fuel prices, in line with the Administrative Instrument on public transport fares.

The fares will affect all commercial transport services, including intra-city (trotro), intercity (long distance) and shared taxis.

The statement also advised members of the GPRTU and the public to comply with the new fares to avoid confrontations.

"Members are kindly requested to comply with the new fares and post the fare list at the load terminals to avoid any confrontation with the travelling public.

"We further request the cooperation of members, commuters and the public for the successful implementation of the new fares," it added.