GPRTU Gives Government 2 Days to Scrap Fuel Taxes or Face Fare Hikes

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has warned the government to remove fuel taxes within two days, or risk commercial transport operators increasing fares.

The union says the rising cost of running vehicles is becoming unsustainable, citing high fuel prices, expensive spare parts, worsening road conditions, and rising fees from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

Samuel Amoah, Deputy Industrial and Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, explained that while the government may claim current economic challenges are beyond its control, transport operators cannot continue absorbing these costs. He stressed that if authorities do not act, operators will have no choice but to hike fares to stay in business.

“We’ve given the government two days to take action. If they fail to respond, we’ll be forced to organise our members to request a fare increase,” Amoah said in an interview with Joy News.

The warning follows new pricing guidelines from the National Petroleum Authority, which set minimum ex-pump prices from April 1 to April 15 at GHS 13.30 per litre for petrol and GHS 17.10 per litre for diesel—up from GHS 11.57 and GHS 14.35 in the previous period.

The surge in fuel costs is largely linked to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which continue to affect global oil markets