The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has issued a strong 48-hour ultimatum to government, demanding the immediate removal of fuel-related taxes or risk a nationwide increase in transport fares.
The union says escalating operational costs are pushing commercial drivers to the edge, warning that failure to act swiftly could trigger unavoidable fare adjustments across the country.
According to Samuel Amoah, Deputy Industrial and Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, the current economic conditions have made it increasingly difficult for transport operators to sustain their businesses. He pointed to rising fuel prices, high spare parts costs, poor road conditions, and increasing charges by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) as key pressures on the sector.
While acknowledging government’s position that some economic challenges may be beyond immediate control, Amoah stressed that transport operators cannot continue to absorb the mounting costs.
“We came up with this release and gave the government two days to do something about it. If they fail to do [that]…then we have no option but to organise ourselves to request an increment of transport fares for our members.
“What the government and the president is saying is, it is something they can’t control right now, but the transport operators may be forced to,” he told Joy News.
The warning follows newly announced pricing guidelines by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), which set minimum ex-pump prices for fuel between April 1 and April 15 at GHS 13.30 per litre for petrol and GHS 17.10 per litre for diesel.
The new rates represent a sharp increase from the previous pricing window, where petrol sold at GHS 11.57 per litre and diesel at GHS 14.35.
Industry observers attribute the surge in fuel prices to ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which continue to disrupt global oil supply chains and drive up prices on the international market.
With the clock now ticking on the union’s ultimatum, attention turns to how government will respond to avert a potential rise in transport fares that could further strain households and businesses already grappling with rising living costs.
