GPRTU fare hike put on ice after talks with government – NPA boss reveals

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has halted a planned hike in transport fares by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) after talks with the government, according to NPA boss Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe. The discussions arose as transport operators grappled with higher fuel costs due to recent increases in petroleum prices.

The NPA had already raised the price floor for petrol and diesel, causing concern about their potential impact on fares and inflation. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition, Tamakloe expressed worry over the potential consequences of higher transport fares, emphasizing that he and the Transport Minister had been engaging transport operators to prevent an immediate increase.

He noted that transport operators face significant costs, including vehicle maintenance, spare parts, fuel, wages, insurance, and other expenses, with fuel being the primary recent pressure. Government interventions, such as cedi stability and reduced forex pressures, have helped alleviate some cost burdens on operators. Tamakloe praised the GPRTU and other transport groups for their constructive engagement with the government, preventing an immediate fare hike.

However, he acknowledged that a few recalcitrant operators had chosen to increase prices arbitrarily despite the discussions.