The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing a 60% increase in transport fares in accordance with the introduction of the Emission Levy Bill, which will come into effect in January 2024. Parliament has recently passed the Emissions Levy Bill, which requires owners of both petrol and diesel cars to pay an annual fee of GH¢100, beginning in January 2024. The government’s objective with this tax is to encourage the use of environmentally friendly energy sources for vehicle power, aligning with its focus on climate-positive measures and carbon offset initiatives. In light of this development, the GPRTU has submitted a petition to the Speaker of Parliament, urging a reconsideration of the Emission Levy Bill. Alhaji Abbas Imoro, the Public Relations Officer for the GPRTU, has expressed concerns about the additional financial burden this tax will place on the union. “We are already paying for emissions, 10 pesewas per liter. So you can imagine 10 pesewas multiplied by 4.5 for a gallon, multiplied by the number of gallons used in a day, multiplied by the 26 working days in a month. “You can imagine the amount one driver has to pay for it. “We have appealed to Parliament to reconsider it,” he explained to the media in an interview. Alhaji Imoro further stated, “However, we have also indicated that if nothing is done or if there are no changes, we will have other issues to address. “We will organize ourselves and propose an upward adjustment of lorry fares, not below 60%.” Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062.

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has cautioned its members to desist from increasing transport fares. The GPRTU says such action will constitute an illegality and has cautioned that drivers who increase fares would be dealt with. This follows a directive from another transport union, the National Association of Concerned Drivers asking its members to increase fares, effective February 22. Some driver associations had threatened to increase transport fares. For instance, the National Association of Concerned Drivers with over 150,000 members has projected a 10% increment in transport fares by next week as members complain about hikes in fuel prices and spare parts. But the GPRTU has called on its members to a ceasefire on the proposed increase in transport fares and not join the other associations. Speaking to Asaase Business, Godfred Abulbire Adogma, general secretary of the GPRTU said, “It is not an authorised 10% increase and what we heard was that this proposed increment is coming from the Association of Concerned Drivers. They are smaller splinter groups. GPRTU has about 90% of the private sector transport in Ghana and we have due process in adjusting our lorry fares. “And our procedure usually begins with a scheduled meeting with the Minister of Transport where go and negotiate accordingly and then approved before we inform our members. GPRTU is now cautioning our drivers all round that if anybody implements this 10% increase in fares that driver will be sanctioned.” On 11 July 2020, transport fares were increased by 15% following the imposition of restrictions on social distancing and the need for commercial transport (trotro) drivers to reduce the number of passengers. This 15% increment was later slashed to 10% after the easing of the COVID-19 restrictions. Asaase Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093

The Public Relations officer for the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU), Abbas Morro, says the union will be forced to adopt a cost sharing system in the transport business if government announces a cut in the number of passengers who use public transport following a surge in Ghana’s Covid-19 cases. The statement follows a supposed impending 10% upward adjustment of transport fares by the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPTRU). During the first wave  of the Covid-19, transport owners were forced to reduce the intake of passengers as part of the social distancing protocol. Ghana has recorded 718 new cases of the coronavirus, bringing the total number of active cases in the country to 8,216. The death toll has risen to 533. In an interview with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, Public Relations officer for the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPTRU), Abbas Morro, said the union will only share the cost of the empty seats on the others should government ask the union to observe social distancing in the vehicles. He refuted the 10% upward adjustment of transport fares by as being purported. According to him, the union will have no option than to park their vehicles should there be any form of resistance to the cost sharing system. “ We, the drivers are really suffering. After work every day, we put monies down for fuel,  engine, tyre, insurance , road worthy among others. After all these expenses, we end up with little or nothing. If this cost sharing is resisted, then we would have to park all our cars until something is done about it, else we won’t get monies to feed our families”, Public Relations officer for the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPTRU), Abbas Morro, told Kaakyire Ofori Ayim. Source; Atinkaonline.com Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093