‘We’ll take the new fares, we’re not a charity organisation’ – Concerned Drivers Association to Transport Ministry

The Concerned Drivers Association has called the bluff of the Ministry of Transport over its directive asking the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to arrest drivers who charge unapproved transport fares.

The Association maintained that it would charge the new fares because operators in the transport sector are not “charity organisations.”

The spokesperson for the Association, David Agboado, in an interview on 3FM’s Hot Edition programme today, Monday, April 15, emphasised that the cost of doing business has consistently gone up.

“We are transporters; we buy the parts, we buy the fuel, we buy the insurance, we buy the DVLA papers to work with, we don’t buy them to give them out because we are not a charity organisation; we are transport operators and profit-driven organisation,” he stated.

He further questioned the rationale behind the Transport Ministry’s statement accusing the sector minister of travelling outside the country before causing the release of the statement.

“Let your reporters go and check if the person who is doing the negotiation is in the country; see, we are serious business-minded people who are doing the transport [business]. If he [the minister] is not serious with his ministry, he should be there and be dreaming.”

“We will charge [the new fares] and continue to charge,” he reiterated.

Mr. Agboado also blamed the Transport Ministry for not showing interest in the sufferings of the driver unions.

Background

In a statement dated Sunday, April 14, the Ministry of Transport advised the Ghana Police to be on the lookout for any driver who charges unapproved fares as negotiations to have transport fares increased are still ongoing.

According to the Ministry, drivers are expected to charge the old fare. However, there are concerns that some drivers are charging new fares.

“The Ministry wishes to inform the general public that negotiations are still ongoing with the transport operators. Therefore, the Ministry is by this statement urging the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to be on the lookout for any driver who goes contrary to the directive issued by the GPRTU and the GRTCC,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Western Regional branch of the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) announced a 20 percent increment in the fares.

Also, the Transport Operators Union and the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana have proposed a proposed 30% increase in transport fares, set to take effect on Saturday, April 13.

The drivers cited recent increases in fuel prices and other operating expenses, which they claim have an impact on the transport industry, as the reason to increase the fares.

Source:Fiilafmonline/3News