The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has condemned the arbitrary increase of transport fares by VIP Jeoun Transport Service and some public transport [trotro] operators while stakeholders had not concluded the negotiations on percentage of fare increase.
The spokesperson for the transport union, Alhaji Abass Imoro told Alfred Ocansey on 3FM Sunrise Morning Show on Monday 31 October, 2022 that as a luxurious and a well-established transport company, it is condemnable that VIP Jeoun Transport Service did not set a good example by going ahead of the negotiations to announce a 20% increase in fares.
“This influenced some of the other driver groups to increase their fares as much as 30%. VIP should come out and apologize for putting the laws in their own hands to increase fares ahead of conclusion” Alhaji Abass stressed.
He expressed worry that unfortunately when they had just concluded on 19% increment of fares, the prices of fuel went up again outside the pricing window which got some drivers infuriated to charge above the agreed fare increment.
Abass Imoro also expressed worry over how the media and other stakeholders have kept quiet on the issue and appealed to all stakeholders to speak out and condemn such arbitrariness by VIP Jeoun Transport Service and the others.
“VIP came out to announce their upward adjustment on 24 October, 2022 ahead of the agreed date of 29 October, 2022 and this influenced the poor trotro operators to also increase their fares” Abass stated
The industrial relations director of GPRTU admitted that the arbitrariness and disparity in the percentage increment of the transport fare is as a result of the multiplicity of driver and transport unions which makes regulation quite difficult.
Many commuters have bemoaned the disparity and arbitrariness in the transport fare increment by transport operators. There are disturbing reports and videos of altercation between some passengers and transport operators over fare increase. In a viral video, one of such altercation led to the untimely death of a passenger.
By Samuel Afriyie Owusu|3news.com|Ghana