Kumasi commercial drivers reject new 10% fare reduction

Commercial drivers in the Ashanti Region have rejected calls to reduce transport fares by 10 per cent.

The directive by the Road Transport Operators on the drivers to reduce transport fares by 10 per cent has fallen on deaf ears despite the reduction taking effect on Wednesday, May 17, 2023.

Some Ghanaians who boarded commercial vehicles including shared taxi, and “trotro" cried foul over the drivers refusal to reduce the transport fares as announced by authorities in the transport industry.

Some commercial drivers at the Sofoline, Atonsu and Kejetia bus terminals in an interview with reporters said the basis for transport fare reduction was inaccurate.

They argued that all inputs in the transport industry such as spare parts, income tax, road-worthy fees and engine oil, among others have increased astronomically except fuel. This they argue that reducing transport fares on the basis of a little fall in fuel prices was a bad venture.

The commercial drivers in the Ashanti Region have however opposed the directive charging the old fares with claims that they will run at a lost if they obey the calls by their authorities.

The road transport operators on Monday released a statement calling on commercial drivers for the immediate reduction in transport fares following a marginal decrease in fuel prices.

The statement noted the reduction affects shared taxis, intra-city (trotro), intercity (long distance) and haulage.

“In line with the administrative arrangement on public transport fares, the road transport operators have reduced public transport fares by 10 percent to accommodate for the reduction in the price of petroleum products observed over the period,” the operators announced.

Prices of petroleum products have seen a marginal decline in the second pricing window of May 2023 as a result of the decrease in the price of crude on the international market and relative stability of the Ghana cedi.