The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) says it will postpone any announcement of new transport fares until it verifies that President Mahama’s pledged petroleum tax reductions have been implemented at the pump.
Deputy Public Relations Officer Samuel Amoah explained that the union would roll back any planned fare hikes if the government’s tax cuts translate into a significant fall in fuel prices.
“If the President announces it and it reflects at the pump, we will revert — we will revert whatever decision we made,” he stated on the AM Show. “But we just want to see the feasibility. We want to see it at the pump before we also know what to do.”
His remarks come amid a worsening global energy crisis. Fuel costs have spiked in recent weeks following heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. Washington’s launch of Operation Epic Fury on 28 February prompted retaliatory strikes from Tehran and a temporary shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route. The disruption pushed crude prices beyond $100 per barrel, rattling markets and weakening several emerging-market currencies.
In Ghana, transport operators say the ripple effects have been severe. Beyond fuel, drivers are contending with soaring spare parts costs, higher insurance premiums, and increased DVLA renewal fees — all piling pressure on businesses already operating on slim margins.
Amoah recalled that government had earlier assured the union through the “middle price window” mechanism that fuel price surges would not be passed on to consumers. That assurance, he suggested, has not materialised. “They gave us a promise through the middle price window that they are going to work on it so that it will not reflect this time,” he said. “So yes, it’s something we’re looking at, but we just want to see the feasibility.”
The GPRTU is scheduled to meet later today to calculate a possible fare adjustment based on current operating costs before submitting a formal proposal to the Ministry of Transport. Should the government announce and enforce tax cuts before the proposal is filed, the ministry is expected to provide updated figures to the union for review.
However, Amoah acknowledged that reversing fares after an increase is announced is extremely difficult for both operators and passengers. “You see how difficult it is when you have to reverse an increment in fares?” he asked.
He added that the union may consider maintaining existing fares if fuel prices return to earlier levels — around GH¢14.90 for diesel and GH¢12 to GH¢13 per litre for petrol.
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