Drivers enjoy fuel price increment

Drivers enjoy fuel price increment

     The Ghana Private Road Transportation Union (GPRTU) new fares has had an adverse effect on the businesses of the general public especially drivers, passengers and commercial car owners.

    According to the Madina-Adenta Drivers Welfare Committee Chairman Mr. Ernest Tham, the delayed notice of new GPRTU fares due to a rise in fuel with prices not tallying with GPRTU fares poses great challenges to the union. He also said, drivers use the change in fares to extort money from passengers by increasing the fares exorbitantly when the stipulated fare is not out yet. This as a result, poses much negative effect on the patronage of taxi services by commuters. Now, commuters patronage more of "trotro" services to taxi services which has reduced their daily sales.

   However, commercial car owners on the positive side have gained because weekly sales have increased. He therefore edged passengers to report station vehicles who put extra amount on the stipulated fares and suggested that the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) collaborates first with the regional and national secretariat of which GPRTU is a sub-body before bringing out the stipulated fares.

   Some drivers also said that the challenges faced in transportation is not dependent on increment but it arises from GPRTU’s inability to put to paper the stipulated fares for various location for visibility by passengers to resolve passenger-conductor controversies.

   As such, it creates enormous problems for drivers who employ the services of new conductors who don't know the stipulated fare thereby exchanging words with passengers who are displeased.

   Also, some drivers said they lack registered conductors who know the actual fare, therefore it poses so much  problem when there is fare increment that changes in conductors either make them loose or gain income. Commuters also misunderstand the percentage increment which affects the flow of business.

   On the positive side, commercial car owners increase their weekly sales by Gh5.00 making them gain whilst "work and pay" sales remain the same.

   Passengers also attest to the fact that business has drop due to transportation increment in respect to the law of demand and plead that, government sees to resolving these problems.

BY: DORA BADU ACHEAMPONG