The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has indicated that the government’s decision to reduce the regulatory margin on diesel by GH¢2.00 per litre could halt its planned transport fare increase, although a final decision will be taken after consultations with its members.
The government announced the temporary reduction in the diesel regulatory margin for one month to cushion consumers against rising fuel prices, prevent transport fare hikes, ease inflationary pressures and provide relief to businesses and households.
The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said the union welcomed the intervention and would assess its impact before deciding whether to proceed with its proposed fare adjustment.
Mr Amoah noted that while the union had proposed a 30% increase in transport fares due to rising fuel costs, the government’s intervention could alter that position.
“What the government, the President, has done now by taking the GH¢2 from the petroleum product means that we are coming back to where it was,” he said.
He explained that the GPRTU leadership met on Monday and agreed to consult its regional branches before reaching a final decision.
“As I’m speaking to you, a decision will be taken tomorrow to find out if we have to go ahead with this increment. If yes, what percentage margin are we looking at?” he said.
Asked whether the government’s intervention would effectively halt the planned fare increase, Mr Amoah said that was likely, but stressed that the outcome would depend on the consultations.
“I can say yes, in a way. That would depend on the final meetings tomorrow by the leadership of GPRTU and that of the other unions,” he said.
He added that the union would first monitor how the reduction is reflected at fuel stations before announcing its position.
“We’ll still wait for tomorrow to see the reflections at the pump. Then we’ll know what to do finally,” he said.
Mr Amoah acknowledged that the GH¢2 reduction would provide some relief to commercial drivers, estimating that they could save about GH¢9 on a gallon of diesel.
“It means that if a driver buys one gallon of fuel, he is saving about nine cedis. It’s quite well,” he said.
However, he stressed that the union’s decision would ultimately be guided by consultations with drivers and transport operators nationwide.
“We represent drivers. We have covered all 16 regions. All the decisions that we take, we make sure that they will favour the drivers, the passengers and the transport owners as well,” he said.