The Ghana Private Road Transport Union has warned that government’s proposed relief measures are insufficient to address the mounting financial pressures facing commercial drivers across the country.
Speaking on the AM Show, Samuel Amoah, Deputy Public Relations Officer of the union, said transport operators are grappling with a multi-layered cost crisis that goes beyond rising fuel prices.
“Spare parts are very high. There has never been any relief,” Amoah stated. “Quality insurance has also been increased, and DVLA taxes have gone up too.”
His comments come amid a sharp rise in global crude oil prices, which have climbed from $86.2 to $109.23 per barrel due to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and supply disruptions along key routes such as the Strait of Hormuz.
The impact in Ghana has been immediate. Petrol prices have surged from GHS 10.46 to GHS 13.30 per litre, while diesel has risen even more steeply—from GHS 11.42 to GHS 17.10 per litre within a month.
Beyond fuel, Amoah highlighted additional cost burdens, including increased vehicle licensing fees from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and higher insurance premiums. He noted that penalties for late insurance renewal have also doubled, further straining operators already dealing with rising expenses.
According to Amoah, these combined pressures have made transport operators skeptical of government assurances. Although President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to review taxes on petroleum products, he stressed that operators need to see immediate reductions at the pump before considering holding transport fares steady.
“We look at what we see at the pump. When we go to the pump, that is what we also use,” he said, emphasizing that promises alone will not prevent fare increases.
The GPRTU is expected to hold an internal meeting in the coming days to assess the situation and determine possible fare adjustments. Any proposed changes will require approval from the Ministry of Transport, but the union insists that the current economic strain leaves little room for delay.
