The Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association has rejected claims that rising spare parts prices contributed to the recently announced 30 per cent increase in transport fares, describing the justification as false and misleading.
The Association said commercial transport operators were attempting to use the alleged increase in spare parts costs to justify higher fares and accused them of exploiting ordinary Ghanaians.
In a strongly worded statement, signed by the Director of Communinications for the Association, Takyi Addo described the conduct as an attempt to “blackmail the government and extort money from ordinary Ghanaians,” adding that “they are road robbers.”
The statement was issued in response to claims attributed to the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) that increases in the cost of vehicle maintenance, including spare parts, had contributed to the fare adjustment.
According to the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, there has been no increase in spare parts prices that could justify the transport operators’ explanation.
It said there had also been no significant changes in import duties or prevailing market conditions that would support claims that spare parts costs were driving the increase in transport fares.
The Association further stated that stock levels at Abossey Okai remained stable, while prices of essential vehicle components, including engine oil and filters, had remained unchanged.
It also questioned the basis for linking the fare increase to Abossey Okai dealers, noting that commercial transport operators had themselves indicated that they purchase some spare parts online rather than from dealers at the Abossey Okai spare parts hub.
The Association therefore urged transport and driver unions to base fare adjustments on verifiable economic indicators rather than what it described as unfounded allegations.
It called for greater transparency in discussions on transport fares, urging the relevant transport unions, government regulators and other stakeholders to engage before fare adjustments are announced.
The Association said such consultations would help ensure that any changes in transport fares were fair, justified and reflective of actual operating costs.
It subsequently appealed to the general public and transport users to disregard claims linking the 30 per cent fare increase to rising spare parts prices.
