Commuters across Ghana will begin paying higher transport fares from Tuesday, June 2, 2026, following a 20 per cent increase approved by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other commercial transport operators.
The new fare adjustment will affect intra-city trotros, inter-city buses and shared taxi services nationwide.
The decision was announced on Friday, May 29, after consultations between transport unions, vehicle owners and other stakeholders. According to the operators, the increase has become necessary due to the continued rise in fuel prices and the escalating cost of vehicle maintenance.
Speaking to MyJoyOnline, the National Deputy Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said transport operators had delayed increasing fares in anticipation of improvements in economic conditions but could no longer absorb the mounting operational costs.
“This increment should have come long ago, but we held on because of assurances that prices would come down. Looking at the current situation, if we do not adjust fares, it will affect operations. Drivers are already complaining seriously,” he said.
Mr. Amoah disclosed that several meetings had been held with government officials and industry stakeholders in an attempt to avoid a fare increase, but the worsening cost of operations left operators with little choice.
The transport unions explained that fuel prices have remained persistently high, while the prices of tyres, batteries, engine oil and other essential spare parts have risen significantly over the past few months.
According to them, the growing expenses have placed considerable pressure on drivers and vehicle owners, making it difficult to maintain vehicles, sustain operations and remain financially viable.
The operators stressed that the fare adjustment is intended to cushion transport service providers against rising costs while ensuring the continued delivery of transport services to the public.
To facilitate implementation, updated fare schedules will be displayed at lorry parks and transport terminals across the country before the new rates take effect.
Passengers have been advised to familiarise themselves with the approved fare charts and avoid paying charges above the officially sanctioned rates.
The unions also warned drivers, conductors and station managers against overcharging passengers, noting that monitoring teams would be deployed in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to enforce compliance.
“Our task force, working with the Police MTTD, will monitor compliance at major stations. Anyone found overcharging will face sanctions,” the operators stated.
While acknowledging the economic hardship facing many Ghanaians, the transport unions appealed to commuters for understanding and cooperation, insisting that the decision was taken only after exhausting all available alternatives.
They further renewed calls for government intervention to address factors contributing to rising transport costs. Specifically, they urged authorities to review taxes and import duties on spare parts and implement measures aimed at stabilising fuel prices.
According to the operators, such interventions would help reduce operational expenses and ultimately ease the burden on both transport providers and passengers.
The GPRTU and its partners reiterated their commitment to providing safe, reliable and affordable transport services despite current economic challenges.
The 20 per cent fare increase is expected to have a ripple effect across the economy, with transportation costs likely to influence household spending and the prices of goods and services nationwide.
