GPRTU Tells Drivers to Hold On as Fare Review Talks with Ministry Near Conclusion

Transport operators across Ghana are being asked to hold off on any fare hikes while the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) works toward an official resolution with the Ministry of Transport. The call for restraint came directly from the union's leadership, which says a critical meeting scheduled for Tuesday will determine the path forward on transport fare adjustments. The development underscores the balancing act the GPRTU faces between addressing the legitimate financial pressures of drivers and ensuring any fare changes follow a transparent, orderly process.

Drivers Told to Wait for Official Word

Samuel Amoah, Deputy Secretary of the GPRTU, addressed the matter publicly on Thursday during an appearance on JoyNews' The Pulse, appealing to drivers not to act unilaterally ahead of the union's engagement with the Ministry.

"The Minister has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to discuss the way forward. Until this meeting takes place, we have not reached a conclusion on whether there will be an increment or the percentage, if any, that will be applied," Amoah said.

His remarks come amid growing restlessness among transport operators who have been absorbing rising fuel costs without a corresponding adjustment in the fares they charge commuters. Amoah stressed that any decision on fare changes must go through proper channels -- a joint determination between the union and the Ministry -- before it can be officially announced to the public.

The GPRTU says it expects to provide members with a clear update immediately after Tuesday's engagement, and drivers are being advised to avoid creating confusion on the roads in the meantime. Unilateral fare increases imposed without the union's formal approval have in the past led to disputes between drivers, passengers, and transport regulators -- a scenario the GPRTU is clearly looking to prevent.

Amoah's message was firm but measured: the union acknowledges the difficulties drivers are facing, but a structured process must be respected. The assurance given to members is that their concerns are being actively pursued at the highest level, and that any outcome from Tuesday's meeting will be communicated promptly and transparently.

Easter Delay Pushed Back Key Negotiations

The meeting with the Ministry of Transport had originally been planned for an earlier date but was postponed when the Easter public holidays scattered government officials to their home constituencies. Most ministers were unavailable in Accra for official engagements during the holiday period, causing a delay in what the GPRTU had hoped would be a swift resolution to the fare review question.

Public holidays in Ghana have historically created short-term disruptions to government business, and the Easter break proved no different this year. With ministers out of Accra and official offices operating at reduced capacity, the GPRTU found itself having to defer what it considered an urgent engagement until government business fully resumed.

Now that the festivities have concluded, the union is moving quickly to get the meeting back on the calendar. Tuesday's planned engagement is being treated as a firm commitment by both sides, with the Ministry having confirmed the date to the union's leadership. The GPRTU has indicated it is ready to table a comprehensive set of concerns around transport rates and operational costs at that sitting.

The GPRTU has assured its members that all decisions on fare adjustments will be communicated officially and promptly once the Tuesday meeting concludes -- and that no driver should act on assumptions before that update arrives.

Fuel Costs and Global Pressures Behind the Push

The urgency around fare reviews is not happening in isolation. Ghana's transport sector has been feeling the weight of sustained increases in pump prices, a situation driven in part by global oil market dynamics. The prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict continues to put upward pressure on crude oil prices internationally, and those effects have filtered through to fuel stations across the country.

Transport operators say their operational costs have climbed significantly, putting them in a difficult position. Running routes, maintaining vehicles, and paying drivers has become more expensive, while the fares collected from passengers have remained static. For many operators, the current situation is described as unsustainable without some form of relief -- whether through a fare increase, a reduction in petroleum taxes, or some combination of both.

The GPRTU had earlier formally petitioned the government to review taxes applied to petroleum products, warning that continued inaction would eventually force the union's hand on fares. That petition argued that the fuel levy burden on Ghanaian consumers and transport operators was disproportionate, and that adjustments at the policy level could relieve some pressure without immediately passing costs on to commuters.

The union has maintained, however, that regardless of what policy relief may come, a structured and transparent process must precede any fare increases -- a position it is reiterating now ahead of the Tuesday meeting.

• Global oil prices remain elevated due to ongoing geopolitical tensions
• Local fuel prices have trended upward, squeezing transport operators
• GPRTU previously called on government to reduce petroleum product taxes
• No fare increase has been announced or confirmed as of Thursday
• The union's next major decision point is the Tuesday Ministry meeting

What Commuters Can Expect

For the millions of Ghanaians who rely on commercial transport daily -- from trotro passengers in Accra to long-distance travellers between regional capitals -- the immediate message is that fares remain unchanged for now. Passengers should not expect drivers to impose new charges without an official announcement from the GPRTU following the Tuesday engagement.

If the meeting results in an agreement on fare adjustments, the GPRTU has indicated it will communicate the outcome clearly, including any new percentage rates that may apply. Commuters and operators alike are being advised to await that formal guidance rather than acting on speculation or rumour circulating on social media and within transport yards.

The outcome of Tuesday's engagement will be closely watched across the transport sector. Depending on what the Ministry and the union agree on, any adjustment could affect bus, minibus, and shared taxi fares on both intercity and intra-city routes nationwide. The scale of any increase -- if one is approved -- will likely depend on the level of fuel price movement the Ministry is willing to recognise as the basis for a revised fare structure.

Transport advocacy groups and passenger organisations are also expected to monitor the situation, as fare increases directly affect household budgets, particularly for low-income commuters who depend on public transport as their primary means of movement.

For now, patience remains the official instruction from the GPRTU to its membership and to the riding public. The union has given its word that Tuesday's meeting will bring clarity -- and that whatever is decided will be shared with all stakeholders without delay.