The Alliance of Drivers Ghana has announced a 20 percent increase in transport fares, effective Monday, March 17, citing rising fuel prices, escalating engine oil costs, and the increasing prices of vehicle spare parts.
Speaking in an interview, the group’s National Public Relations Officer, Kwaku Boateng, explained that commercial drivers have struggled with soaring operational costs for months and can no longer absorb the financial strain.
“The 2025 budget came, and we heard nothing about tariff reductions, yet the Finance Minister stood and spoke the whole day,” Boateng lamented.
Boateng appealed to commuters to understand the situation, emphasizing that the fare adjustment was necessary for transport operators to sustain their businesses.
“We are going to increase our fares by 20 percent, and we are pleading with our passengers to bear with us because the price of engine oil and spare parts have all gone up,” he stated.
Ghana’s transport sector has been significantly impacted by periodic fuel price hikes and maintenance costs, making it increasingly difficult for drivers to remain profitable.
Several transport unions and driver associations have repeatedly called on the government to introduce measures that ease the financial burden on commercial drivers.
However, according to Boateng, these requests have yielded little to no results. With inflation and currency depreciation further compounding the challenges, transport operators believe the fare increment is the only viable option to keep their businesses afloat.
