The chairman of the Commercial Transport Operators Union, Asonaba Nanaba Wiredu, has firmly stated that transport fares will not be increased following the government’s introduction of a new GHS1.00 “Dumsor Levy” on fuel.
Speaking on Radio Kulcha with Kwesi E Baako, Asonaba Nanaba Wiredu acknowledged the concerns of commercial drivers and vehicle owners, who are feeling the impact of rising fuel costs. However, he emphasized that the newly introduced levy does not meet the union’s internal threshold required to justify a fare adjustment.
“Based on the threshold we operate with, we can’t increase transport fares just because of the 1 cedi Dumsor levy on fuel,” Wiredu explained. “We have a responsibility to the public. Any fare adjustment must be backed by significant and sustained increases in operational costs, not one-time or marginal levies.”
The GHS1.00 Dumsor Levy, introduced earlier this month, is part of a government initiative to fund emergency energy infrastructure and reduce the recurrence of power outages across the country. While many sectors have voiced opposition to the levy, transport operators have been under particular pressure, as any fuel price increase directly impacts their bottom line.
According to Wiredu, the transport union operates a structured model for fare reviews that considers cumulative fuel price hikes, spare parts inflation, insurance costs, and macroeconomic pressures like currency depreciation. Currently, while fuel prices have edged up due to the levy, other indicators have not risen drastically enough to warrant an upward fare revision.
Despite the current stance, the Transport Operators Union remains on alert. Wiredu noted that the Union will continue to monitor the impact of the levy and other cost factors over the coming weeks. If conditions deteriorate, fare reviews could still be considered.
WATCH VIDEO BELOW:
