No Transport Fare Hike Tampuli

The Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli, says government will not increase transport fares following report making rounds of a potential increase in transport fares by some driver unions and associations across the country.

Speaking during the launch of the GoRide taxi app in Accra on Wednesday, the minister said there are no basis for transport fares to be increased in the next six months, hence Ghanaians should disregard commentaries from any section of the public.

“We have heard some noises from the drivers union about sudden increase in lorry fares, but I want to say here unequivocally that there is no basis for any such increase in lorry fares between now and the next six months,” he disclosed.

“Countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Angola and Sudan, major oil producing countries, have stable oil prices and so there can’t be any basis for any increase. As a matter of fact, there should rather be a reduction. Ghana has one of the lowest fuel cost among the 15 countries in West Africa,” he noted.

According to him, even though Ghana is recorded on the continent as one of the nine countries with the lowest prices of petrol below a dollar, there is still no basis for any increase at this time and in the coming days.

He further explained that the leadership of the driver unions were abreast with what the Transport Ministry considers in increasing the price of fuel and subsequent increase in transport fares in the event of changes in world market prices of oil.

“Leadership are all here and they know what we do that triggers increase in lorry fares. Nothing of that sort has happened,” he said.