GPRTU suspends 20% fare increment

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has decided to suspend the implementation of the proposed 20% upward adjustment in transport fares, originally scheduled to take effect on January 24, 2024.
In a directive issued by the National Secretariat and the National Management of GPRTU, all Regional Secretariats have been instructed to temporarily halt any planned fare adjustments. The directive, signed by Godfred Abulbire, General Secretary of GPRTU, announced that the National Management, in collaboration with other transport operators, will engage in a stakeholder consultation with the Ministry of Transport on January 23, 2024, to comprehensively address the matter.
The directive emphasized that all Regional Secretariats and branches should adhere to this suspension until further instructions are provided by the National Secretariat.
The decision comes after GPRTU disregarded existing regulations that require fare adjustments to be collectively negotiated by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union. GPRTU had unilaterally announced a 20% fare increment, a move opposed by the Transport Ministry.
The Ministry of Transport insisted that no single union has the authority to independently determine the percentage increase in fares.
The suspension of the fare increment indicates an effort to reconcile differences and engage in meaningful consultations with relevant stakeholders before any adjustments are made.
The stakeholder meeting scheduled for January 23, 2024, is expected to provide a platform for discussions on the proposed fare increment, taking into account the concerns of all parties involved.
Further developments will likely unfold after this crucial meeting between GPRTU and the Ministry of Transport.