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Commuters in Accra said they are furious about the high transport fares some drivers plying Accra are charging as a result of the 15 per cent fare increment by transport operators. The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) on Saturday announced that effective Monday, July 14, transport fares would go up by 15 per cent. According to the GRTCC, the increment was reached after consultations between the Transport Ministry and the transport operators. Commuters at the Achimota New Lorry Station and Kaneshie Station told the GNA that they were shocked when drivers decided to increase the fares by 29 per cent. The passengers said they were charged GHC2.50 but are now paying GHC3.50 representing 40 per cent and places that they were paying GHC1.20 are now charging GHC2.00 representing over 60 per cent. �We are frustrated and confused the way people in this country are taking the laws into their own hands and the government seems to be helpless about the situation, � Mr Nii Adjei Tetteh, a civil servant told the GNA. �For some time now our salary has not been increased yet, every other month they bombard us with price increases � if not water and electricity then it will be petroleum products � and we all know that increment of those items affects every other commodity or services, but our salaries remain the same,� he said. Nii Tetteh said recently the government came up with what it termed �high cost of living allowance,� for government workers but that amount could �highly pay for our water bills,� and called on President John Dramani Mahama to sit up and put things right. He said Ghanaians, especially government workers, were suffering as they depended solely on their meager salaries as the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission had put hold on category two and three allowances. �All government workers have turned into managers and performers of miracle till their next monthly salary comes. We are appealing to the government to put in measures to cushion workers to enable them maintain their families adequately,� he said. The situation was not different from other stations that the GNA visited as commuters blamed the government for the hardship that Ghanaians find themselves now. The National Petroleum Authority announced new fuel prices and petrol (premium) saw the highest increase of 23.08 percent. A litre of the commodity, which used to sell at GH�2.73 per litre is now selling at GH�3.36 a litre. Kerosene saw an increase of 23.75 percent and diesel 22.01 percent. Premix fuel increased by 25.60 per cent to GH�1.57 per litre. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) saw an increase of 15.68 percent, selling now at GH�3.32 per litre. The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Greater Accra Regional Secretariat has warned that any commercial driver who charges more than the 15 per cent vehicle fare as announced would be suspended for three months. Mr Edmund Amartefio, GPRTU Senior Industrial Relations Officer (IRO) told the GNA in an interview that all commercial drivers through their respective branch Unions have been served with the new fare; �but anyone who attempts to take advantage and exploit passengers will be dealt with. �We have warned drivers not to charge beyond the specified amount as failure to do so will result in a three months suspension for such drivers as stipulated in the constitution of GPRTU,� Mr Amartefio stated. He said GPRTU branches across the country had been informed and advised to strictly adhere to the 15 per cent announced by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council. Mr Amartefio also called on passengers to be vigilant and report any driver or mate who attempts to charge beyond the approved fares to GPRTU branch officers. �Any driver who goes contrary to the directive we urge passengers to take their registration numbers, the route they are plying and report to GPRTU authorities for the necessary measures to be taken against them,� he stated.