Transport Minister starts work on Monday with increment in transport fares

The Minister nominee for Transport, Kwaku Ofori-Asiamah is likely to start work on Monday February 6, 2017, when transport fares are expected to be increased. Information available to Onua News from the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) indicates that transport fares will at all cost go up on Monday. Onua News’ sources say stakeholders are currently consulting because transport fares are not determined by the increment of prices of fuel alone. The source at the GRTCC was not emphatic about the percentage increment but was emphatic new fares will be announced on Monday. Stakeholders in the transport sector had earlier hinted that they were waiting for the Transport Minister to vetted, approved and sworn in then they will increase transport fare. This is because they always seek the input of the Transport Minister in determining the percentage increment. The Transport Minister-designate, Mr. Ofori-Asiamah, was vetted on Thursday February 2 and is expected to be approved by the Appointment Committee in Parliament on Friday February 3 and subsequent swearing in by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo later on Friday for him to start work officially on Monday February 6, 2017. The GRTCC source said, hopefully, consultations with the stakeholders will be concluded over the weekend to enable them announce the increment later on Monday. Earlier this week, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) had implored Ghanaians, especially those who patronize commercial transports, to embrace themselves for an increment in transport fares within the next two weeks. The GPRTU said transport fares should have gone up on the 1st of December last year, but they held on even though prices of fuel and spare parts increased within the period. By Kweku Antwi-Otoo|Onua 95.1FM|editors.3news.com|Ghana