GTUC calls for transport fares reduction
The Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC) has called on the Ghana Private Road Transport Union to take appropriate measures to reduce transportation fares.
This follows a 20 per cent reduction on an initial 15 per cent increment of fuel prices which is yet to take effect.
The GPRTU has however said their Union will not come down with their fares even with the reduction in fuel prices.
The action of the GPRTU to increase transport fares by about 10 percent early this year was necessitated by the removal of fuel subsidies which increased petroleum products by up to 30 percent.
Secretary General of the GTUC, Kofi Asamoah, in an interview with e.tv Ghana business news said transport fares are determined by government
in consultation with stakeholders.
“Let me emphasise that government as the manager of the economy is the one who makes the decision. Except that they have to do so in consultation with stakeholders. We have drawn the GPRTU, who is a member of the Union’s attention to that.”
He was of the expectation that the GPRTU will put in the appropriate mechanisms to reverse their position.
“We are expecting that the appropriate mechanism should be put in place to reverse that position. GPRTU is part of the GTUC and they should not undermine the efforts of working people generally. It is our expectation that appropriately they will be meeting to do what is expected of them.”
According to Kofi Asamoah, the GTUC will continue to fight for the plight of workers. He said the country is not ready for the total removal of subsidies.
“Our commitment to the fact that there should be subsidies on petroleum products is quite total. We say so because we think that our country hasn’t gotten to the level where the total cost can be handed over to Ghanaians.”
The Secretary General is of the view that, with proper consultations, the stalemate could have been avoided.
By: Kwadwo Tuffuor, e.tv Ghana
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