The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has refuted claims by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) that it has suspended its proposed 30 percent increase in transport fares following engagements with government.

According to GPRTU, its recent meeting with the Ministry of Transport ended inconclusively, with plans for further engagements for a renegotiation.

The GPRTU had proposed an increment in transport fares, citing rising fuel prices and the high cost of vehicle spare parts.

However, reacting to the NPA’s comments in an interview with Citi  News, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said a final decision will be taken after a scheduled meeting with the Ministry on September 22.

“There has never been any agreement with the government that we are suspending our proposed increment. The last meeting we had with the minister was last Friday and that we were still negotiating the 30 percent increase but there wasn’t any conclusion so prior to that we were asked to postpone the meeting to Tuesday, September 22.

“There has never been any agreement that says we are not going to increase fares.”

He further reiterated that GPRTU members have been directed not to partake in the sit-down strike by the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), beginning today, over the costs of vehicle maintenance.