Koforidua, Dec. 15, GNA - The Eastern Regional branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), has announced a decrease in transportation fares, following a reduction in of fuel prices last Friday. Mr. Joseph Boateng, Eastern Regional Vice-Chairman of the Union, told the GNA at Koforidua on Monday that the secretariat had directed its affiliate members to reduce lorry fares by at least 10 per cent for long-distance and five per cent for short distance journeys. He said the reduction in lorry fares was in reaction to an order from the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) made public over the weekend calling on transport unions to reduce lorry fares following reduction in the price of fuel prices. The fare for Koforidua-Kumasi air-conditioned buses has been reduced from GH¢ 5.50 to GH A2 5.

Mr Boateng said the 10 per cent or GH¢ 5.5 that was supposed to be charged in the case of Koforidua-Kumasi air-conditioned buses has been rounded to Gh¢ 5. The fare for Koforidua-Kumasi regular bus service which was GH¢ 4.40 was reduced to GH¢ 4 cedis while air-conditioned buses plying the Koforidua-Madina-Accra route which were previously charging GH¢ 3 was reduced to GH¢ 2.70.

Koforidua-Accra mini bus service has also been decreased from GH¢ 2.40 to GH¢ 2.20.

In the Koforidua township, many taxi drivers have reduced fares from 30 Gp to 25 Gp to reflect the new directive. Mr Boateng called for a reduction in the prices of other petroleum products such as engine oil and maintenance cost. He said the price of engine oil has jumped from GH¢ 27 to GH¢ 30.