The Institute of Energy Security, an energy think recently predicted a potential increment of fuel prices between 7% and 13% in February 2023 which saw some Oil Marketing Companies selling their petrol at Gh¢15.25 from the previous Gh¢13.60 and diesel at Gh¢15.90 from the previous Gh¢15.52 as of Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Mr. Abas Ibrahim, the Public relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union on High Morning Breeze after this development, he noted that their outfit is yet to release new lorry fares as consultations and discussions are ongoing.
Mr. Abas Ibrahim attributed the cause of fare increment not to fuel prices alone but a lot of incidences indicating that the insurance commission has increased their policy by 30%, an increase in the prices of car tires and spare parts which according to him forms part of the reasons behind their decision to come out with new lorry fares.
He stressed that drivers are always not happy to continuously increase prices of their fares but the economic conditions have made it so hence he will plead with all passengers to exercise constraint since leaders of GPRTU, other transport owners, and stakeholders are in serious engagement and discussions to arrive at a percentage of the fare that will help both parties (the drivers and passengers)
Mr. Abas Ibrahim further authorized passengers to cause the arrest of any driver who by their own decisions increased their fares as a result of the fuel price increment since their unions have not formally introduced any new fares in connection to the new hikes in fuel prices.
He bemoaned some levies and taxes on fuel products that cause the consistent increase in fuel prices and called for a complete scrap of these levies to help reduce fuel prices in enduring better living standards for ordinary Ghanaian passengers.
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