Energy Expert Kwadwo Poku Urges GPRTU to Hold Transport Fare Increases Amid Temporary Fuel Price Hike
The energy expert says transport operators should consider the hardship fare hikes would impose on commuters
- Energy expert Kwadwo Nsafoa Poku urges GPRTU to hold off on increasing transport fares for now
- The recent rise in petrol, diesel, and LPG prices is linked to global tensions in the Middle East and may not last
- Poku emphasizes that immediate fare increases could burden ordinary Ghanaians and should be approached with caution
Energy expert Kwadwo Nsafoa Poku has called on the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to reconsider plans to raise transport fares following a recent uptick in fuel prices.
Speaking on the Ghana Se Sen Morning Show with Kwame Tanko on Monday, Mr. Poku urged transport operators to show restraint, saying, “We beg them to stop. We have been in this country long enough, and when fuel prices reduced, they didn’t reduce fares, blaming spare parts. So we beg them to consider the hardship a fare increase will impose on Ghanaians.”
His comments come after the GPRTU indicated that a rise in fuel prices could compel transport operators to review lorry fares to offset increasing operational costs. The union cited the second fuel pricing window, set to begin Monday, March 16, as the likely trigger for any potential fare adjustment.
According to industry data, the price floor for petrol has increased to GH¢11.57 per litre, up from GH¢10.46 per litre between March 1 and 15. Diesel has risen sharply from GH¢11.42 to GH¢14.35 per litre, while LPG has moved from GH¢9.38 to GH¢10.67 per kilogramme.
Mr. Poku described the current situation as temporary, noting that the fuel price spike is largely due to global tensions in the Middle East. “The war is temporary, and if after a month prices have not gone down, then fare increases may be justified. For now, they should consider the hardship that a fare increment will pose on ordinary Ghanaians,” he added.
He emphasized that fuel price fluctuations are part of global market dynamics, and urged both transport operators and commuters to exercise patience as the situation stabilizes.
