Fuel price hikes: Commercial drivers push for 10% increase in transport fares

The recent surge in fuel prices has once again sparked conversations on potential increases in transport fares, with some drivers in the Accra spearheading the call.

They are urging the leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other transport unions to announce an increase in fares.

The drivers contend that the increment in fuel prices is eroding their profit margins, consequently affecting their ability to make ends meet and shoulder other family responsibilities.

They also lament that the cost of spare parts and other items necessary for their operations has also shot up.

“Sometimes we go home with bare hands because you cannot say you are not buying fuel. As long as you have moved the car, the car owner will take his or her sales. If you want to work with the car, you have to fill the tank. If you do all this and you don’t get anything for yourself.

“We plead with the mother union to increase the fare so that we can have that difference. If they increase by 20 or 15%, we will be okay, or let’s say 10 per cent,” Kwabena Kakraba, a taxi driver at the Adabraka Cooperative Society station told Citi Business News.

Although the situation is not universal across all stations visited by Citi Business News, some taxi drivers at Tesano have already begun to review their fares. Taxi drivers who previously charged GH₵10 for short distances are now insisting on GH₵15.

“Short distances used to be GHȼ10 but because of the fuel price hikes, it is now GHȼ15. If we don’t increase it, we cannot make ends meet. Spare parts are also on the rise. Home used tyres now cost GHȼ250. We have to factor all these otherwise we will make losses,” Kwaku Abban Abaidoo said.

Commuters are calling for issues regarding fuel price increases to be addressed to prevent further challenges.
“What we are asking is that anytime there is a fuel increase, they should think about the citizens,” Emmanuel Martey said.

Citi Business News understands that the Concerned Drivers Union will begin addressing matters of fuel price hikes and the impact on transport fares on July 8.

Recent fuel price hikes in the first pricing window of July saw a litre of petrol being sold at GH₵14.80, while a litre of diesel cost consumers GH₵14.92 at leading oil marketing companies including Shell and Goil.