The 13 percent increase in transport fares by the Road Transport Operators has been described by a section of Ghanaians as worrisome as it will affect commodity prices and standard of living.
They have again expressed worry that with the high increment in transport fares and rent charges as against the announcement of a 6 percent increase of minimum wage was problematic.
While the Road Transport Operators in a statement released on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, announced that transport fares would go up by 13 per cent effective Saturday, the National Tripartite Committee (NTC) on June 3 also announced the an increment in the National Daily Minimum Wage from GHc11.82 to ¢12.53, effective June 4 representing a 6% increment on the 2020 figure.
According to the Ghana News Agency, Ghanaians especially some traders in Accra are threatening to increase the prices of their goods should transport fares go up 13 per cent effective Saturday, June 5, 2021.
Madam Christiana Quaye, a fabric vendor told GNA that the increase in transport fares would affect her profit margin, so, she would have to increase the prices of her goods.
“I am unable to get any profit on the capital used in purchasing the cloths with these increases so I have no choice,” she said.
On her part, Madam Betty Danso, a bag seller at the Tema Station in Accra, is reported to have said that once fares increased, prices of goods on the wholesale market would increase. “The economy is already tough, it will reduce sales” she lamented.
Mr. Charles Buabeng, a dealer in spectacles, said with the effective date of the increase of the fares being Saturday, “We will all increase our prices by Monday.”
A driver at the Tema Station, Mr. Bright Asumani, on the other hand, said he was glad about the increase in fares because they had had to endure the increase in fuel prices without a corresponding increase in transport fares for some time.
