trotro buses on the High street Accra

Trotro drivers may embark on demo between 9th and 13th October 2017

Trotro services in Accra may be disrupted this week if the Concern Drivers Union of Ghana makes good its determination to hold a massive demonstration in protest against high fuel prices. According to the group, the incumbent NPP government promised to reduce a gallon of fuel  to GHS 10 when voted into power but has since January 2017 done nothing about it.

The group maintains that the previous administration pegged fuel at GHS 14 a gallon but the new government has increased progressively to GHS 21 Ghana and has refused to agree to fare increases so transport owners can offset their fuel costs.

Fuel increase without corresponding upward review in fares affect the operations of drivers and makes them run at loss. The previous NDC administration arranged with the Driver Unions to perform biannual increments to cater for upward review in fuel prices but the current administrators have not complied with such an arrangement, likely due to the fear that it may become unpopular.

Government has reacted to the concerns of the Unions by stating that fuel increments are as a result of external factors so it cannot review prices downwards unilaterally; a stand the Drivers view as contradictory to its own promises.

The Concern Drivers’ Union of Ghana is one of several bodies that operate motorcar transport services in Accra so their demo doesn’t mean total shut down of trotro services but there is the possibility that other unions in the fraternity may sympathize with their colleagues and involve in the demo as well. Thats when the shortage of trotro service would have a severe impact.