Transport Fare Increment: It’s A Welcoming News, Drivers Have Sacrificed For Long – Prof. John Gatsi

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With effective 11th July 2020, Government has announced a nationwide transport fare increment of 15%  in respect to the reduction of passengers in public transport in line with social distancing protocols as a means of averting and mitigating the effects of the deadly coronavirus pandemic.

However, the dean of students at the school of business at the University of Cape Coast, Prof john Gatsi has opined that the decision is a welcoming news since it has been expected for some time now.

He is of the view that drivers and are owners needed to be compensated for their sacrifices for about 4 months the pandemic hit Ghana.

He said this on Radio 1, a Ghanaian base radio station in the eastern region when discussing the impacts of the transport fare increment on the citizenry (i.e. passengers, drivers, and car owners) via phone with Obido Nana Gyasi, host of Dawohoso.

“Well, i think this increment has been expected for sometime because from the start of the covid period, our transport owners were asked to reduce the number of passengers they take and by that they needed some compensation to increase their fares to be able to make the same amount of money but that was not given them. We have experienced some increment in the fuel price and they were expecting some change in the fares but that didn’t happen. I think it is something that they were expecting and has come to them. Of course that will also increase the burden of some passengers but to the transport owners, it is a welcoming news” – Prof. Gatsi said.

That not alone, he added that the transport operators have sacrificed for long and he believes they cannot sacrifice anymore. Contrary to Duncan Amoah of COPEC who suggested an immediate withdrawal of the increment, Prof John Gatsi believes the increment is justifiable.

“The reality is that the development in the economy from the start of the covid is that there has been increase in fuel prices, the inability to import spare parts because of closure of borders, and the limitation of the number passengers all call for an increment in the fares. It’s a reality that it should have been done One part of the economy cannot be sacrificing for other side of the economy. We need to agree to it that they cannot continue to sacrifice.” – Prof Gatsi maintained.

By: Nana Gyasi | Radio 1 | Ghana