The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has rejected claims by the Ghana Road and Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) that rising spare parts prices contributed to the proposed 30% increase in transport fares.
The Association described the claim as false and misleading, urging the public to disregard any suggestion that increases in spare parts prices are responsible for the adjustment in lorry fares.
In a statement, the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association said there had been no increase in the prices of spare parts to warrant the justification being offered by commercial transport operators.
The Association is of the view that the commercial transport operators are using fare increments to blackmail the government and to extort money from ordinary Ghanaians.
According to the Association, there have also been no significant changes in import duties or market conditions that could support the assertion that spare parts costs are driving increases in transportation fares.
It further noted that stock levels at Abossey-Okai remain stable, while the prices of essential vehicle components, including engine oil and filters, have remained unchanged.
The Association also pointed out that commercial transport operators themselves had indicated that they purchase spare parts online rather than from dealers at Abossey-Okai.
It therefore questioned the basis for attributing the proposed 30 per cent fare increase to the cost of spare parts sold at the spare parts hub.
The Association said the government remained committed to supporting the spare parts industry and called on driver and transport associations to base any adjustments to fares on verifiable economic indicators rather than unfounded allegations.
It also urged that discussions on transport fare adjustments be conducted transparently and involve all relevant stakeholders, including government regulators and transport unions, to ensure that decisions are fair and accurately reflect prevailing economic conditions.
The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association called on transport users and the general public to disregard what it described as false claims linking the fare increase to rising spare parts prices.
The Association reaffirmed its commitment to promoting transparency and accuracy in matters affecting Ghana’s transportation and automotive spare parts industries.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
