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The Ghana Private Road Transport Union has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the government to scrap fuel-related taxes or face a nationwide increase in transport fares.
The union says rising operational costs are putting significant pressure on commercial drivers, making it increasingly difficult for them to sustain their businesses.
According to the Deputy Industrial and Public Relations Officer of GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, drivers are grappling with high fuel prices, expensive spare parts, poor road conditions, and increased charges by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).
He warned that if the government fails to act within the stipulated timeframe, transport operators will have no choice but to adjust fares upward.
“We came up with this release and gave the government two days to do something about it. If they fail to do that, then we have no option but to organise ourselves to request an increment of transport fares for our members,” he said.
The ultimatum follows new pricing guidelines announced by the National Petroleum Authority, which set minimum fuel prices for the first pricing window of April. Petrol is now pegged at GH¢13.30 per litre, while diesel is set at GH¢17.10 per litre.
This represents a notable increase from the previous pricing window, where petrol and diesel were sold at GH¢11.57 and GH¢14.35 per litre respectively.
The surge in fuel prices has been linked to global market pressures, particularly rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which continue to impact crude oil prices worldwide.
The GPRTU’s warning raises concerns about a possible ripple effect on the cost of living, as transport fare increases often lead to higher prices for goods and services across the economy.
