The True Drivers Union is threatening to confront the Ministry of Transport for issuing an advisory to the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to apprehend commercial drivers charging new transport fares.
The public relations officer of the group, Yaw Barimah, slammed the Ministry of Transport over its directive to the Ghana Police Service regarding the implementation of new fares.
He said the Ministry has no power to direct drivers as to how much to charge as fares.
According to a statement released by the Ministry’s Public Relations Unit in Accra on Sunday, April 14, negotiations for new public transport fares are currently underway with road transport operators.
But Yaw Barimah says the Ministry does not have any legal authority to determine transport fares.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) recently issued a joint advisory urging commuters not to pay the new fares.
This advisory was issued after the Transport Operators Union and the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana announced a 30% increase in transport fares, set to take effect on Saturday, April 13.
Yaw Barimah, speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, asked passengers to pay the new fares or seek the services of other transport operators.
He also dared the police to arrest drivers who have started charging the new fares.
According to him, they were prepared to match the authorities boot for boot.
He added that they would prefer to go to jail than reduce transport fares.
“Why should we waste our time and engage with you before increasing transport fares?”We have seen the statement from the government directing that we should be arrested. I am currently on Wenchi. They should send the police to come and arrest me.
We would prefer to go to Nsaeam Prison than reduce transport fares. You can no longer intimidate us. If the government does not take action, we will take matters into our own hands and match them in equal measure. We will no longer entertain their intimidation. We are prepared for whatever they will do to us. If they want us to reduce transport fares, they should remove all the nuisance taxes on petroleum; if not, they should accept the new fares. If the GPRTU is Father Christmas, they should continue taking the old transport fares. We will take the new fares. If they think we have erred or committed a crime, they should go to court.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
