The Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has appealed to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other commercial transport operators to exercise calm over the threatened 20% fare hike amid the tax removal ultimatum
His appeal follows escalating military exchanges involving Israel, Iran, and the United States, which have heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation. Amid the strikes and counterstrikes, the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for global oil transit, has been shut, raising concerns about disruptions to international energy supplies.
Speaking on the development on Thursday, April 2, Mr. Nikpe expressed appreciation to transport unions for their ongoing engagement with the government and said consultations were still underway.
“On behalf of the government, I say a big thank you to all the transport unions. I am sure a lot of Ghanaians will be waiting to hear from them,” he said.
He noted that discussions had been ongoing for several weeks involving both the Transport Ministry and the Ministry of Finance.
“Over three weeks today, I have been engaging them, the finance minister and I will be engaging them, and we are all in a state of engagement,” he said.
Mr Nikpe added that the government would only announce a final position after all consultations had been concluded.
“We will soon come out with our final decisions to the general public. I wouldn’t want to make anything known to the public that is not yet finalised with my transport unions, and you know we work together,” he said.
He stressed that the government is working towards a mutually beneficial outcome for all stakeholders.
“I must thank them for their cooperation so far, and I believe that at the end of the day we’ll come out with a win-win situation for us and then the transport unions and all the drivers that we have,” he said.
Touching on fuel price movements, the Minister said global geopolitical tensions were influencing the situation.
“Either through this situation that we find ourselves in, you realise that all the fuel prices were going downwards, but what is happening in Iran from America and Israel is creating these issues for us, but the unions are cooperating,” he said.
He assured that engagements were ongoing and a final decision would be communicated in due course.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com