The Public Relations Officer for the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) David Agboado has justified his association’s proposal for an 80 percent increase in transport fares. He stated their decision has been necessitated due to the draconian taxes on fuel.
Speaking on Plan B FM late afternoon show EBAANOSEN hosted by Ohene Kinnah, the PRO reiterated that cost of doing business is too high in the country and is not favoring them due to the rampant increases in spare parts and petroleum products and the recent taxes being introduced which includes the pollution and sanitation levy, the ECO levy, by which all owners of vehicles with motor engines are expected to pay a whopping GHC 100.00 every six months.
The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) is advocating for an 80 percent increase in transport fares ahead of the Ghana Private Road Transport Operators Union’s (GPRTU) meeting with the government.
In a statement copied to it said, “We have become aware of a petition by the Ghana Private Road Transport Operators Union (GPRTU) to the transport ministry in which the union is proposing a 70 percent transport increment in two weeks time. We wish to state that we have thrown our full support to the GPRTU for the move, except to say that any increment in transport fares must be above 70 percent, and so we are suggesting 80 percent.”.
They also state that any other percentage increase apart from 80 percent will spell doom for drivers as a result of certain policies instituted by the government.
They explained that their demand is due to the recent increase in fuel prices, lubricants, spare parts and taxes.
According to them, presently, drivers are paying pollution and sanitation levy, yet the government has introduced another one known as the ECO levy, by which all owners of vehicles with motor engines are expected to pay a whopping GHC 100.00 every six months.
Read the full statement below:
Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana(C-DAG)
15/12/23
Press Statement For Immediate Release
Akufo Addo/Bawumia Are Killing Us; We Want 80percent Transport Fare Increment
We have become aware a petition by the Ghana Private Road Transport Operators Union(GPRTU) to the transport ministry in which the union is proposing a 70percent transport increment in two weeks time.
We wish to state that we have thrown our full support to the GPRTU for the move except to say that any increment in transport fares must be above 70percent and so we are suggesting for 80percent.
Any increment below 80percent will spell doom for drivers as a result of certain policies instituted by government.
Fellow Ghanaians, presently drivers are paying pollution and sanitation levy yet the government has introduced another one known as the ECO levy by which all owners of vehicles with motor engines are expected to pay a whopping GHC 100.00 every six months.
Apart from that, the government has also introduced a policy that requires vehicle owners to renew their vehicular documents and licenses even when the vehicles run aground and are being maintained.
These tax introductions come to add up to the numerous ones that already exist and will further exacerbate our plight.
Fellow citizens, it must be noted that it was President Akufo Addo who during his era as Attorney General setup the Fast Track Court where several drivers were jailed and slapped with hefty fines.
This time around, he is not imprisoning us but rather strangling us to death.
It is worthy to mention that his government has failed to discuss with us any policy introduction that will affect drivers.
We have learnt that some government communicators are making loud noises about the introduction of a certain app for transport operators. We wish to unequivocally state that the Akufo Addo/Bawumia government has failed we drivers and their app can never save our business and redeem us from the perpetual hardship they’ve thrown us into.
Fellow Ghanaians, with all sincerity, drivers are suffering and need your support by agreeing with us to roll out the 80 percent increment in transport fares effective next two weeks.
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