GRTCC hikes prices, GPRTU and COPEC push back
Fare confusion: GRTCC hikes prices, GPRTU and COPEC push back
Public transport fares across Ghana are set to rise by 20 per cent, effective Friday, August 8, 2025, according to an announcement by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC).
In a statement issued on August 5, the GRTCC said the new fares would apply to shared taxis, intra-city services (trotro), intercity (long-distance) travel, and haulage vehicles.
The Council explained that the fare adjustment had become necessary due to rising operational costs. It noted that the prices of spare parts, goods, and services have not decreased as anticipated, following a 15 per cent fare reduction implemented on May 21, 2025.
The GRTCC also cited the impact of the recently introduced GH¢1.00 per litre fuel levy, which has led to an 8 per cent increase in fuel prices. Additionally, the Council highlighted the growing cost of vehicle maintenance due to deteriorating road conditions nationwide.
Transport operators have been directed to strictly comply with the new fares and to ensure that they are clearly displayed at all terminals. The Council appealed to drivers, commuters, and the general public to cooperate with the new pricing for a smooth rollout.
However, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has distanced itself from the fare hike. In a statement signed by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ohene-Yeboah, the union stated that it was not part of the decision to increase fares.
He acknowledged that while discussions had taken place under the Administrative Arrangement on Public Transport Fares and in consultation with some transport unions, the GPRTU does not support the fare adjustment.
Mr Ohene-Yeboah explained that operators had not witnessed any meaningful reduction in the cost of spare parts and other inputs since the last fare cut, but insisted that any future fare reviews must be agreed upon collectively.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has also rejected the proposed increase, describing it as unjustified.
COPEC said the timing of the 20 per cent fare hike was poorly considered, given the ongoing economic hardships facing ordinary Ghanaians. It urged transport unions to reconsider the decision in order to cushion the already burdened commuting public.
Read copies of the press statements attached below;
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