Taxi drivers in the Ho municipality are on strike to protest a directive by the municipal chief executive not to increase transport fares. The drivers effected a ¢500 increase in fares when prices of petroleum products went up by eight percent some three weeks ago. But the MCE, Mr Mawutor Goh issued a directive asking the drivers to revert to the old fares. The drivers said they are running at a loss and can no longer maintain the old fares in the face of the plummeting fuel prices. Taxi is the main means of transportation in Ho. The striking drivers on Tuesday marched to the office of the MCE to put pressure on him to rescind his decision not to allow increase in fares, but Mr. Goh was not there to address them. The situation has brought most commercial activities in the Volta regional capital to a standstill. The most affected ones are workers and school children who depend mainly on taxis as the main means of transport. “I have to walk about two to three kilometers to get to work. I was late to work. Objectively, I have to sympathize with the taxi drivers as well because petroleum prices are up,” a worker said. Speaking in an interview with Joy News, the MCE Mr Goh said the current price being charged by the drivers was reached at a consensus meeting between the drivers and the assembly. “We agreed on this and even agreed that we are going to publish the rates and distribute them to the taxi drivers. We also agreed that the drivers are going to display them in their vehicles,” he said. He said at the moment there is a split within the drivers union with some in support of the current rate while the rest are calling for a review. “Those who are not willing to work can of course go and park their cars. But we are not going to tolerate any situation where those who are not willing to work are going to prevent passengers from boarding others car. If that continues the law will take its own course,” he said.