Gov't is responsible for transport fare increases - PPP

The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) announced at the weekend a 15 per cent increment in transport fares, attributing it to inflation, high cost of spare parts and increased fuel prices.

The National Petroleum Authority has subsequently indicated that government was still in negotiation with the leadership of GRTCC and that the new price fares is a betrayal of trust.

But, the PPP in a statement signed by its national secretary, Murtala Mohammed said "It would be unfair to accuse the GPRTU of increasing the cost of transportation when the prices of fuel are down. This is because the government did not ask the GPRTU to increase transport fares when the prices were up.

The party added that "The GPRTU is a group of business owners who are also suffering from the recent outrageous increment in the utility prices and they need to survive this harsh economic condition. Government is responsible for this increment in transport fares, period!"

Below is the full statement:

The recent Transport Fares increments cannot be blamed on the GPRTU as the Government sought to do through National Petroleum Authority (NPA). Petroleum price increment is one of the major components that determine the prices of many products and services the world over. However, it is not the only determining factor for transport fares in Ghana. We know the general economy, cost of spare parts, cost of insurance, the value of our currency and the roads in your country are all factors that comes to play in arriving at the transport fares.

Ghanaians are aware of the 30% increment in fuel prices from June to December 2015, but the GPRTU did not increase the transport fares. It would be unfair to accuse the GPRTU of increasing the cost of transportation when the prices of fuel are down. This is because the government did not ask the GPRTU to increase transport fares when the prices were up.

This is the height of hypocrisy and the government must retract its accusations on the GPRTU.

The Progressive People’s Party implores the Government to work on stabilizing the cedi to reduce the cost of vehicle and spare parts importation into Ghana. We are also aware that the government of Ghana’s import duties are quoted in United State dollars. The expensive import duties have compounded the difficult conditions facing the transport service providers.

Secondly, the government must improve the quality of our roads to reduce the rate of wear and tear on our vehicles and review the recent increment by 300% in insurance cover.

The GPRTU is a group of business owners who are also suffering from the recent outrageous increment in the utility prices and they need to survive this harsh economic condition. Government is responsible for this increment in transport fares, period!

We want Ghanaians to read into the NDC’s subterfuge and successive Governments and make the right choice come November 7 election. The PPP’s Red Sun is shining brightly against lies and subterfuge, corruption and cheating as well as waste of tax payers’ money.

Murtala MohammedNational Secretary Progressive People’s Party