GPRTU urges drivers to exercise patience on transport fare review

Samuel Amoah, Deputy Secretary of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), urged drivers to exercise patience on Thursday on JoyNews' The Pulse, as discussions on transport fare adjustments are still ongoing. Mr. Amoah explained that the GPRTU leadership had planned to meet with the Ministry of Transport to table concerns about transport rates, but the Easter holidays delayed the planned engagement. He said, "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."

Mr. Amoah appealed to drivers to remain patient and avoid taking unilateral actions. He stressed that the leadership intends to finalise discussions with the Ministry before any decisions on fare adjustments are announced. Earlier, GPRTU called on the government to review taxes on petroleum products, warning of a potential increase in transport fares. This call comes amid rising global oil prices linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which continue to impact local fuel prices.

The GPRTU leadership assured members that updates would be provided promptly following the Tuesday meeting. Transport operators say any further increase at the pumps will inevitably be passed on to commuters, as operational costs surge. The GPRTU has indicated that while fares have remained unchanged for now, sustained fuel price hikes will force a review.