The Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Assembly has held off on a proposed increase in transport fares, insisting that any adjustment must first go through the required consultation and approval processes.
Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Ebenezer Cobbinah, said transport operators had not yet secured formal approval from the Assembly for the proposed fare increment and must therefore continue charging the existing approved fares.
He said the Assembly’s position was not meant to frustrate transport unions or ignore the economic challenges confronting commercial vehicle operators, but to ensure that any eventual adjustment was properly justified and accepted by all stakeholders.
Mr. Cobbinah made the remarks at Ahwietieso during a press briefing organised by the Assembly to clarify recent discussions surrounding the proposed increase in fares within the municipality.
According to him, transport operators raised concerns over rising operational costs, fluctuations in fuel prices and previous adjustments in fares, which they believed provided sufficient grounds for an upward review.
However, the MCE stressed that transport fare decisions could not be taken unilaterally by the Municipal Assembly or its leadership.
He explained that issues affecting commuters and transport operators must be subjected to the appropriate institutional and consultative processes before a final decision is reached.
Mr. Cobbinah said the Assembly had consequently directed the transport unions to consult their regional and national leadership and submit relevant documentation, official directives and other evidence supporting the proposed increase.
He noted that the Assembly would not oppose an upward adjustment that had been properly determined and agreed upon by the Ghana Road Transport-Coordinating Council (GRTCC).
The key concern, he stressed, was ensuring that any increase was backed by the necessary documentation and arrived at through the appropriate procedures.
Mr. Cobbinah therefore urged transport operators to continue charging the approved fares until the consultations were concluded and a formal decision communicated.
He disclosed that he had already engaged the appropriate regional leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), alongside other stakeholders, as part of efforts to resolve the matter.
The MCE also cautioned commercial vehicles that occasionally operate within Tarkwa against imposing fares outside the approved structure for intra-town operations.
He said stronger coordination among the various transport unions would be necessary to maintain order, protect commuters and ensure fairness within the municipality’s transport sector.
