By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
The Gambia’s Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure (MoTWI) announced the price increase in transportation fares and a new tariff for the transportation of containers across the country on 16th January 2023. The announcement indicated that price increases become “effective 20th January 2023”.
Speaking to the President of the Gambia’s Transport Union (GTU) he informed Gainako that the price increases are percentage-based ranging from 30% for Town Taxis down to 12% for fares above D100. The details according to GTU President Mr Omar Ceesay are as follows.
Transport Fare Increases are based on percentages (Source GTU President) set to take effect on Friday 20th January 2023.
The press release adds that “as a condition for the implementation of transport fare increment and the new tariffs, route licensing will be introduced for various destinations across the country. Route licensing is a scheme that allows vehicles to register and ply a particular route”.
Double charging has been one of the most common tactics employed by transport providers by cutting their journey into two or even three in some cases. The statement indicates that “the main objective of introducing a route licensing scheme is to eliminate the charging of double or triple fares for various destinations. Already, the stickers and permits have been issued to vehicles plying various routes within the Greater Banjul Area”.
It could be recalled that the Gambia Government had rolled out some vehicles for the transportation of passengers when drivers went on a strike sometime back in late 2022. However, nothing has been mentioned about the Government employing similar arrangements to increase the number of buses plying the routes at cheaper prices.
However, it’s not clear when this route licensing scheme and if it will indeed be in place by Friday when the price increases should take effect. The press release from the Ministry of Transport notes that “it is expected that the scheme will be rolled out to all other routes within the country in due course”.
What is clear is that the government has had an agreement with the main stakeholders since September 2022. The Government’s statement on the increase of Transport fares also calls on the “Transport Union and heads of Car Parks are urged to ensure that drivers adhere to the principles guiding route licensing. It is anticipated that as the government fulfilled its promise in increasing tariffs, we expect the Union and its members to also fulfil their commitment as per the Communiqué signed in September 2022”.
Transport Fare Increases are based on percentages (Source GTU President) set to take effect on Friday 20th January 2023.
