COPEC Pushes for Reduction in Transport Fares

The Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), Duncan Amoah, has urged commercial transport operators to reduce transport fares, since there has been a reduction in fuel prices.

Mr. Amoah stated that fuel prices may reduce to GHC 15.00 on December 16, 2022, hence, it should serve as a good sign of faith for commercial drivers to reduce fares to help in the relief of the hardships Ghanaians are currently facing.

“We would use your medium equally to join the millions of Ghanaians who are clearly waiting for our commercial transport operators to show a sign of good faith with them in these times.”

“The last time commercial transport fares were adjusted, you were looking at fuel prices hovering around GHC 13.00. Then they did the 19% hike in transport fares, then we jumped to GHC16.00, diesel went up to about GHC23.00, and transport operators came back to add another 20%, which escalated transport fares,” he added.

In an interview on Eyewitness News, he highlighted that Ghanaians will be dismayed if commercial drivers do not reduce transport fares.

“At this point, diesel is not doing too badly; there has been some GHC5 reduction, if you add what we are expecting on Friday, it will come to about GHC15. From GHC23 to GHC15, GHC8 is such a jump. We will be utterly disappointed if any of the commercial transport operators from Friday continue to make excuses that they have made losses in recent times, so they are not going to reduce transport fares.”

Mr. Amoah assured that COPEC will engage transport owners on the need to reduce fares.

“This will not be just a radio conversation, we will take steps equally to approach them to explain to them the need to drop the very high transport fares that Ghanaians are currently being charged.”

The Executive Secretary of COPEC made this statement with regards to commercial drivers’ unwillingness to reduce transport fares, despite the fall in fuel prices.