David Agboado, the Public Relations Officer (P.R.O.) for the Concerned Drivers Association, has stepped forward to contradict claims of an impending increase in transportation fares, asserting that there will be no hike as previously announced. The announcement of a 30 percent increase in transport fares, slated to be enforced on March 7, 2024, originated from members of the Transport Operators Union and certain regional executives of the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana. They attributed their decision to the government’s perceived failure to address their grievances.
However, Agboado clarified that the regional executives lacked the authority to make such a decision, stressing that announcements and determinations concerning fare adjustments must be sanctioned by the national executives. Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Agboado disclosed that the regional executives faced penalties for their unauthorized actions.
“The three regional officers, as we know, are very powerful in terms of the transport sector; that is, the Greater Accra, Central, and Ashanti Regions. They are very powerful and are very needed in transport operations. But they should not take their numbers or the size of their circle to do whatever they want, like they did yesterday. As I speak to you, we have sanctioned them; we have suspended them for three months,” he explained.
Agboado further mentioned that the coalition of commercial transport operators is yet to agree on a specific date for any potential increase in transport fares.
Background
The Transport Operators Union and the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana jointly announced a proposed 30 percent increase in transport fares, effective Thursday, March 7. In a press release issued on Monday, March 4, the two organizations cited the government’s insufficient response to their concerns as the driving force behind the fare hike. They highlighted the continuous surge in fuel prices, which has been impacting their livelihoods and posing challenges to their operational activities.
Characterizing the fare adjustment as crucial for the sustainability of their businesses, they called upon the government to engage with their leaders to ensure a seamless implementation of the fare adjustments.
“The fare adjustments are essential to ensure the financial viability of the transportation sector and to maintain the quality of service provided to the public. The failure of the government to address this critical issue has left us with no choice but to consider fare increments as a means of coping with the escalating operational costs.
“We are calling on the government and relevant authorities to engage in constructive dialogue with our leaders to address the challenges faced by our sector and to implement fare adjustments that reflect the current economy.”
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