The
recent
surge
in
fuel
prices
has
once
again
sparked
conversations
on
potential
increases
in
transport
fares,
with
some
drivers
in
the
Accra
spearheading
the
call.
They
are
urging
the
leadership
of
the
Ghana
Private
Road
Transport
Union
(GPRTU)
and
other
transport
unions
to
announce
an
increase
in
fares.
The
drivers
contend
that
the
increment
in
fuel
prices
is
eroding
their
profit
margins,
consequently
affecting
their
ability
to
make
ends
meet
and
shoulder
other
family
responsibilities.
They
also
lament
that
the
cost
of
spare
parts
and
other
items
necessary
for
their
operations
has
also
shot
up.
“Sometimes
we
go
home
with
bare
hands
because
you
cannot
say
you
are
not
buying
fuel.
As
long
as
you
have
moved
the
car,
the
car
owner
will
take
his
or
her
sales.
If
you
want
to
work
with
the
car,
you
have
to
fill
the
tank.
If
you
do
all
this
and
you
don’t
get
anything
for
yourself.
“We
plead
with
the
mother
union
to
increase
the
fare
so
that
we
can
have
that
difference.
If
they
increase
by
20
or
15%,
we
will
be
okay,
or
let’s
say
10
per
cent,”
Kwabena
Kakraba,
a
taxi
driver
at
the
Adabraka
Cooperative
Society
station
told
Citi
Business
News.
Although
the
situation
is
not
universal
across
all
stations
visited
by
Citi
Business
News,
some
taxi
drivers
at
Tesano
have
already
begun
to
review
their
fares.
Taxi
drivers
who
previously
charged
GH₵10
for
short
distances
are
now
insisting
on
GH₵15.
“Short
distances
used
to
be
GHȼ10
but
because
of
the
fuel
price
hikes,
it
is
now
GHȼ15.
If
we
don’t
increase
it,
we
cannot
make
ends
meet.
Spare
parts
are
also
on
the
rise.
Home
used
tyres
now
cost
GHȼ250.
We
have
to
factor
all
these
otherwise
we
will
make
losses,”
Kwaku
Abban
Abaidoo
said.
Commuters
are
calling
for
issues
regarding
fuel
price
increases
to
be
addressed
to
prevent
further
challenges.
“What
we
are
asking
is
that
anytime
there
is
a
fuel
increase,
they
should
think
about
the
citizens,”
Emmanuel
Martey
said.
Citi
Business
News
understands
that
the
Concerned
Drivers
Union
will
begin
addressing
matters
of
fuel
price
hikes
and
the
impact
on
transport
fares
on
July
8.
Recent
fuel
price
hikes
in
the
first
pricing
window
of
July
saw
a
litre
of
petrol
being
sold
at
GH₵14.80,
while
a
litre
of
diesel
cost
consumers
GH₵14.92
at
leading
oil
marketing
companies
including
Shell
and
Goil.
Explore
the
world
of
impactful
news
with
CitiNewsroom
on
WhatsApp!
Click
on
the
link
to
join
the
Citi
Newsroom
channel
for
curated,
meaningful
stories
tailored
just
for
YOU:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x
No
spams,
just
the
stories
that
truly
matter!
#StayInformed
#CitiNewsroom
#CNRDigital