The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) says it will delay any announcement of new transport fares until it confirms that President Mahama’s promised petroleum tax cuts have taken effect at the pump.
Deputy PRO Samuel Amoah said the union will reverse any proposed fare increase if the government’s announced tax reduction leads to a meaningful drop in prices.
“If the President announces it and it reflects at the pump, we will revert — we will revert whatever decision we made,” he said on the AM Show.
“But we just want to see the feasibility. We want to see it at the pump before we also know what to do.”
His comments come as the global energy crisis deepens. Fuel prices have surged sharply in recent weeks following the escalation of US–Iran hostilities.
Washington’s launch of Operation Epic Fury on 28 February triggered retaliatory attacks from Iran and a temporary closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping corridor for global oil.
The disruption sent crude prices soaring above $100 per barrel, destabilising markets and weakening several emerging-market currencies.
Locally, transport operators say the spillover effects have been severe.
Beyond fuel, drivers are grappling with rising spare parts prices, increased insurance premiums and higher DVLA renewal fees — all contributing to intensified pressure on transport businesses already operating on thin margins.
Amoah noted that the government had previously assured the union through the “middle price window” mechanism that fuel price spikes would not be passed on to consumers. That commitment, he suggested, has not materialised as expected.
“They gave us a promise through the middle price window that they are going to work on it so that it will not reflect this time,” he said. “So yes, it’s something we’re looking at, but we just want to see the feasibility.”
The GPRTU is expected to meet later today to compute a potential fare adjustment based on current operating costs before forwarding a formal proposal to the Ministry of Transport.
Should the government announce and implement tax cuts before the proposal is submitted, the ministry is expected to relay updated information to the union for consideration.
However, Amoah admitted that reducing fares after an increase is announced is extremely challenging for both operators and the public.
“You see how difficult it is when you have to reverse an increment in fares?” he asked.
He added that the union would consider maintaining current fares if fuel prices return to earlier levels — around GH¢14.90 for diesel and GH¢12 to GH¢13 per litre for petrol.
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