Regional News of Tuesday, 22 February 2005

Source: GNA

GPRTU tries to correct discrepancy in lorry fares

Winneba (C/R), Feb. 22, GNA - The Winneba branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPTRU) of the Trade Union Congress is liasing with its Kumasi counterpart to correct discrepancy in lorry fares between Kumasi-Mankessim-Winneba to alleviate the hardship currently facing passengers plying the route.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Winneba on Monday, the chairman of the branch, Mr Kofi Atta said, while the branch had fixed a new fare of 26,000.00 cedis from Winneba to Kumasi, vehicles from Kumasi to Mankessim were collecting 23,000.00 cedis.

According to him passengers from Mankessim to Winneba are paying a new fare of 7000 cedis following the increases in fuel prices last Friday.

He said if the discrepancy in lorry fares is not corrected immediately, most drivers would be interested to ply between Kumasi and Mankessim and this would create transportation problem for passengers from Winneba and Apam going to Kumasi.

Meanwhile, drivers plying Winneba-Accra and Winneba Senya Beraku are complying with the new thirty per cent increases as directed by the government as result of the fuel increases.

Passengers going to Accra are now paying 7,000.00 for Benz Bus instead of the old fare of 5000 cedis, while those to Senya Beraku are now paying an increased fare of 400 cedis for trotro.

Mr Kofi Atta renewed his appeal to the government to rehabilitate the Winneba-Gyahadze-Senya Beraku road not only to make travelling very comfortable but also prolong the life span of vehicles using the road. 22 Feb. 05