The Ho-Accra branch of the Cooperative Transport Union on Friday said it might be forced to increase transportation fares from Ho to Accra if government maintains the new road tolls.
But the local leaders of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA) said they would maintain the old fares until they received directives from the national leadership.
Mr Jones Ameyi, Ho Station Master of the Co-operative Transport Union, told the Ghana News Agency that the new road tolls and "what the police take from us are taking us out of business and the only alternative will be to increase our fares."
"As it is now, drivers do not even get chop money apart from the sales they make for the car owners, so either government reduces the tolls or we increase our fares," Mr Ameyi said.
He said drivers were agitating for the fares to be increased and urged government to reduce the new tolls by half.
Mr Edward Fiattor, Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Ho/Accra branch, said though the government's resolve to improve the country's road network was commendable it should nevertheless consider reducing the tolls.
He said his branch would continue to charge existing lorry fares until it received directives from its national leadership.
Mr Arnold Hlomashie, Secretary of Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), said while all transport unions agreed that there was the need for road tolls to be increased, the percentage increase was too high and need to be reduced.
He said the local branch of PROTOA would continue to charge existing transport fares to Accra until it received directives from its national leadership.
Some passengers the GNA spoke to on the issue urged government to take another look at the new tolls to forestall any increases in transport fares and the consequent increases in the prices of goods and services.