The Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU) has warned that the continued delay in announcing an increase in transport prices is negatively impacting the operations of its members.
The GPRTU stated that the recent increase in replacement parts and other accessories is having an unanticipated impact on commercial drivers.
Godfred Abulbire, General Secretary of the GPRTU, is thus pushing for an urgent increase in transit charges.
“Last year [2023], there were serious tax components that had affected all the spare parts, and the cost of spare parts has gone extremely up. Just this year, we had a direct correspondence from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) that they have revised all their taxes on commercial cars, taking effect in January. And whether we like it or not, all commercial cars will pay,” Godfred Abulbire said in an interview.
The recently passed Emissions Levy Bill by Parliament imposes an annual fee of GHC100 on all owners of petrol and diesel cars, starting from January 2024.
The government aims to promote the use of environmentally friendly energy sources for vehicle power through this tax, aligning with its commitment to climate-positive actions and carbon offset initiatives.
In response to these developments, the GPRTU has petitioned the Speaker of Parliament, urging reconsideration of the Emission Levy Bill.
