Government approves increase in transport fare.
By Stephen TADAHA
Transport fares in Cameroon have been officially increased in response to the 15% increase in the prices of petroleum products made by the Government at the start of February 2024.
This is the major recommendation arrived at in a meeting between some Government Ministers and Road Transport Trade Unionists which was held on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, at the headquarters of the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilization Fund in Yaoundé.
The first recommendation from the meeting confirmed the 15% increase of Petroleum products at delivery units in towns depending on the weight of the fuel in the units.
Increase by 15% of transport floor prices of goods negotiated in common accord between transporters and cargo owners depending on the nature of the cargo.
Proceed with an urgent increase in the prices of urban, semi-urban, and interurban transport fares to absorb the impact of the fuel increase at fueling stations.
Another meeting between the Transport Trade Unionists and the Minister of Transport was scheduled for Monday, February 19, 2024, to urgently finalize a concertation linked to other transport issues.
Other recommendations arrived at, during the meeting were the urgent resolution of altercations between transporters and uniform men at control posts, the examination of taxes and customs duties levied during the importation of spare parts, the authorization to circulate with receipts of car registration documents, and the immediate lifting of the strike action earlier announced by transporters by joining concertation efforts initiated by the government.
On behalf of the Government were the Ministers of Trade, Labor and social security, transport and of water resource and energy, including the General Manager of the Hydrocarbons Price Stabilization Fund and representatives of the General Delegate of National Security and the Secretary of state in charge of the National Gendarmerie.
The Minister of Trade, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana had rejected a unilateral increase in the prices of urban, semi-urban, and interurban transport fares imposed by some transporters since the Government decided to increase prices of petroleum products by 15%, calling on them to join the government’s concertation efforts.
