The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has disclosed that, due to the Emission Levy Bill passed in parliament and commenced in January 2024, citizens should expect not less than 60% increment in transport fare.
The Public Relations Officer for the union, Abbas Imoro, during an interview with Accra based Citi TV, lamented that, the new bill has added extra burdens on the union in this hard economy despite the already existing bills they are paying.
“We are already paying for the emission, 10 pesewas for a litre. So you can imagine 10 pesewas by 4.5 for a gallon by several gallons you use a day times 26 working days in a month. You can imagine how much one driver pays for it. And we pleaded with parliament that they should have a second look at it”, he added.
He emphasized that, the union has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to have a second look of the bill but till date no response thus, giving them the reason to increase prices in transport fares not less than 60%.
“But we did indicate that if nothing is being done or nothing can be done about it, then of course we have other problems as well. We will package ourselves and come out with an upward adjustment of lorry fares not less than 60%,” he said.
The Emission Levy Bill by Parliament requires an annual fee of 100 cedis on all owners of petrol and diesel cars, starting from January 2024.