 has rejected the transport fares hike announced by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council){kind=link}
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has rejected the transport fares hike announced by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC).
According to COPEC, the proposed fare hike is unjustifiable given the current economic pressures on ordinary Ghanaians.
Duncan Amoah, the Executive Secretary of COPEC, revealed that his checks from the transport unions and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) indicate no decision has been made to increase fares by 20 per cent on Friday, August 8.
In a press release signed by Duncan Amoah on Tuesday, August 5, stated, “Our checks with the various transport unions, including the Ghana Private Roads Transport Union (GPRTU) and other driver unions, indicate no such decision has been taken. It is also difficult to comprehend what matrices inform any such drastic upward reviews of public transport fares, as that affects largely the poor and already suffering masses”
COPEC statement added, “For the avoidance of doubt, fuel prices which used to sell for around Ghc15/litre as of January 2025, when it declined to around ghcll and Ghc12/litre saw a section of drivers who were magnanimous in reducing transport fares by some 15% though a cross section of other driver Unions did not reduce their fares and had to be literally chased by the local assemblies.
On the balance of odds or numbers, the pricing levels as of today are still not anywhere near the January prices from which transport fare discussions could be had, and such is our surprise at the attempts by a section of transport operators to justify a further increase in fares as of this time”, the statement added.
COPEC argued that the reasons stated by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council cannot be used as a basis for punishing the suffering Ghanaian
The statement added, “The above argument, though true, cannot and should not be the basis for punishing the suffering Ghanaian masses as the overall effect of the new One Ghana levy is still not sufficient to wipe out the sustained reductions recorded at the pumps over the past couple of months”.
“It is imperative to note that, an intention which has not yet been enforced cannot and should not form the basis of any increases in transport fares as the effects will not only be felt by the already suffering masses but will further diffuse genuine outcry by the people for the cost of goods and services to be reduced across all sectors to bring some relief”.
COPEC statement follows the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council announcement that transport fares will go up by 20% effective Friday, August 8, 2025.
According to the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council, the directive is in collaboration with transport unions.
In a statement signed by Emmanuel Ohene-Yeboah, General Secretary, and Alhaji Tanko, Acting National Chairman of the Council revealed that the price increase is due to three key developments.
The transport operators stated that despite the implementation of a 15% fare reduction on May 21, 2025, the price of spare parts, goods, and services has not experienced a corresponding reduction.
The introduction of a GH¢1.00 per litre fuel levy has led to an estimated 8% increase in fuel prices.
Also, the rising cost of maintenance costs due to deteriorating road conditions across the country.
The 20 per cent increase will affect taxis, intra-city trotro services, long-distance intercity transport, and haulage.
The statement added that, “All commercial transport operators and companies are to comply with the new fares and visibly post them at their loading terminals”.
Transport operators have also been instructed to comply with the new fares.
They also urged commuters, transport operators to cooperate for the smooth implementation of the revised fares.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other commercial transport operators announced a drop in transport by 15 per cent on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
The 15 per cent adjustment reflects the sustained appreciation of the cedi against the US dollar, contributing to a significant drop in fuel prices.
Nonetheless, on the ground, the 15 per cent drop was marked by non-compliance, exploitation, and growing dissatisfaction among road commuters, specifically traders, public servants and students.
See the statement below:
