Ghana faces a looming transport crisis as commercial drivers threaten a nationwide strike beginning Tuesday, June 10, 2025. The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has issued a firm ultimatum, demanding the immediate reversal of the newly introduced GH¢1 levy on petroleum products.
The levy, part of the recently passed Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to generate GH¢5.7 billion annually to address the country’s growing energy sector debt, currently at US$3.1 billion. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has defended the measure, saying the funds are vital for servicing debt and securing fuel for thermal power generation.
However, transport operators fear the move will devastate their industry.
At a press conference in Accra on Thursday, June 5, GPRTU’s Industrial Public Relations Officer, Abass Ibrahim Imoro, condemned the levy as a “unilateral decision” taken without consultation.
“This GH¢1 increase per litre, representing a 6.7% rise in operational costs [based on a GH¢15/litre average fuel price], is unsustainable,” Imoro stated. “It comes at a time when we’re already battling a 15–20% hike in spare parts, maintenance, and insurance costs over the past year.”
He warned that the levy could force transport fares up by 10–15%, a burden millions of Ghanaians—over 60% of whom rely on public transport—can ill afford.
The GPRTU, representing over 200,000 drivers and vehicle owners, is calling for the immediate withdrawal of the levy and a comprehensive stakeholder dialogue to address the broader challenges facing the energy and transport sectors.
“We are calling on the government to reverse the levy immediately and engage with us,” Imoro declared. “Failing that, we will be compelled to take industrial action and park our vehicles on June 10. The government must consider the impact of this policy on the transport sector and the potentially catastrophic consequences of our action on the broader economy.”
Despite assurances from the Finance Minister that the strong performance of the Ghanaian cedi would cushion consumers from price hikes at the pump, transport unions remain unconvinced. They argue that any rise in fuel prices will inevitably affect fares, cost of goods, and the daily livelihoods of ordinary Ghanaians.
