The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) has laid blame on government inaction as a key reason behind the 20% increase in public transport fares, set to take effect on Friday, August 8, 2025.
Speaking to ABC News GH, the General Secretary of the Council, Emmanuel Ohene-Yeboah, defended the hike, saying commercial drivers have been left with no viable option in the face of rising operational costs. “We don’t have a choice,” he stressed.
According to Ohene-Yeboah, the new fare adjustment is driven by a combination of harsh economic realities, including the impact of the GH₵1.00 per litre fuel levy, which has significantly raised fuel costs.
He said the decision to increase fares followed failed attempts to reach a consensus with the government.
“How do you expect me to recover my expenditure if we don’t take from the passenger?” he asked, describing the fare increase as a last resort after exhausting dialogue channels.
Despite public frustration, Ohene-Yeboah maintained that the 20% upward adjustment is not excessive.
“The percentage increment is not too huge,” he insisted, adding that the fare reduction implemented in May 2025 had not been matched by any decrease in prices of spare parts or maintenance services.
Drivers, he noted, continue to bear the brunt of poor roads and soaring expenses without adequate state support.
The fare hike will affect all forms of commercial transport—shared taxis, “trotros,” intercity coaches, and haulage services.
The GRTCC has urged operators to post the new fares at loading points and asked commuters to cooperate. Meanwhile, critics argue that without urgent policy changes, fare hikes will only deepen the burden on already struggling Ghanaian households.
