The General Secretary of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Godfred Abulbire, has stated that the Union has put on hold its decision to increase transport fares pending a meeting with the Transport Ministry.

Abulbire gave the indication in an interview on Joy FM’s Middaynews on Thursday, January 18.

According to him, the union decided to go ahead to announce fare increases after several futile efforts to engage the sector ministry to discuss the issue.

“So now that we have been called to come and meet, we will put on hold our intention to raise the fares,” he said.

GPRTU in a statement had noted that the union would be increasing transport fares by 20% by January 24, citing the increase of spare parts as well as the implementation of some new taxes.

Although the Transport Ministry has urged the public to disregard the purported increase, the Deputy Minister for Transport, Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana announced that the Ministry will engage with transport operators to discuss the proposed increase in fares.

Mr Abulbire stated that the union will decide on the way forward after the meeting with the Ministry.

However, the concerned drivers association insists increasing the fares is not off the table.

The Public Relations Officer of the Association, David Agboado, emphasised that maintaining the cars is expensive due to frequent encounters with the police on the roads, who raise concerns about the deteriorating condition of their vehicles.

He, however, noted that the Association will honour an invite from the Ministry when invited.