GPRTU Threatens Fare Increase if Fuel Prices Don't Stabilize

October 8,2025

 The Ghana Private Road Transport Union has announced plans to increase transport fares if fuel prices continue to rise, citing persistent instability in petroleum costs and the refusal of spare parts dealers to reduce their prices.

In an interview on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, explained that rising fuel costs have forced the union to consider fare adjustments despite an earlier 15% reduction.

"When we were asked to reduce our transport fare by 15%, the fuel price was around 12.59 pesewas for diesel, and the petroleum too was around 11.34 pesewas," he said. "After that, the expectation was that maybe the fuel price was going to remain the way it was, but then we noticed that it kept going up. At the same time, we are also complaining about the cost of spare parts and other components that we use to run our business."

Mr Amoah lamented that despite the union's earlier calls, spare parts dealers have not reduced their prices. "We came out complaining that the spare parts dealers should reduce their prices, but they haven't done so. So, looking at where the fuel prices are now,diesel is now being sold at 14.44 pesewas, thereabout, and then petrol too around 13.69 pesewas, we find that if the next pricing window pushes fuel up again, then the transport operators would have to do some adjustments of transport fares so we can continue to serve the public," he explained.

The GPRTU official urged the government to act swiftly to stabilize fuel prices to prevent the fare hike. "We are asking the government to find a way of holding the fuel pricing for it not to go up again. But if it happens to go up, then there is nothing we can do but to increase the transport fare," he said.

The threat of a transport fare increase comes at a time when many Ghanaians are already grappling with the high cost of living. Transport costs directly affect the prices of goods and services across the economy, and any upward adjustment would likely have ripple effects on household budgets.

The union had previously reduced fares by 15% following government negotiations, but the continued rise in fuel prices has eroded the margins that made that reduction possible. With diesel now selling at approximately 14.44 pesewas per liter and petrol at around 13.69 pesewas, transport operators say they can no longer absorb the increased operational costs.

The next fuel pricing window will be closely watched by both the GPRTU and consumers, as it will determine whether transport fares remain stable or face an upward adjustment.