Drivers at new Tema Station yet to increase transport fares

Mr. Patterson Asare, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) new Tema Station Branch on Monday said the branch was waiting for directive from the Regional Secretariat to increase transport fares.

Twenty-four hours after new fuel prices were announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Asare told the Ghana News Agency “our fares remain unchanged.”

He said branches are not in charge of increasing fares but such duty falls on the Regional Secretariat of the GPRTU to give out the exact fares to be taken by drivers from passengers.

Mr. Asare said there were some complaints against certain drivers at the station for charging passengers with new fares without any directives.

“I have personally warned drivers of this behaviour and I have assured them of an immediate response if new transport fares are given,” he added.

Speaking to GNA, Nana Kwame Sarpong, GPRTU Chairman for the Old Tema Station said, they have already increased transport fares by GHp70.

According to him there had not been any misunderstanding between drivers and passengers at the Station, saying “I think passengers’ quarrelling with drivers over fare increment is becoming a thing of the past.”

He said, “I report to work 06:30 hours every day but due to the increment of the fare, and to avoid any misunderstanding between the drivers and the passengers, I came here around 05:30 hours this morning in order to explain things to the passengers myself”.

Mr Michael Addo, a passenger told the GNA that increases in fuel prices were nothing new, saying “it has been there since time immemorial”.

Source: GNA