The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has rejected claims of a looming 20% increase in public transport fares effective Friday, August 8, 2025.
In a press release issued on Tuesday, August 5, COPEC stated that its checks with key transport unions, including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), revealed no such decision had been officially taken.
COPEC described the proposed fare hike—announced by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC)—as unjustifiable, especially given the current economic pressures on ordinary Ghanaians.
Executive Secretary Duncan Amoah noted that while the government recently introduced a GH¢1 per litre fuel levy, the overall fuel price trend in recent months has seen reductions at the pumps. He emphasised that this cannot be used as the sole basis to increase fares.
“For the avoidance of doubt, fuel prices which used to sell for around Ghc15/litre as of January 2025, when it declined to around ghcll and Ghc12/litre saw a section of drivers who were magnanimous in reducing transport fares by some 15% though a cross section of other driver Unions did not reduce their fares and had to be literally chased by the local assemblies.
The statement said, “On the balance of odds or numbers, the pricing levels as of today are still not anywhere near the January prices from which transport fare discussions could be had, and such is our surprise at the attempts by a section of transport operators to justify a further increase in fares as of this time.”
He further criticised attempts to factor in the possible reintroduction of road tolls into fare calculations, arguing that the tolls have not yet been implemented and should not influence fare decisions prematurely.
COPEC welcomed the position of the largest transport union, which has already rejected the fare increase, citing stable fuel and spare parts prices.
Amoah concluded by urging all stakeholders to prioritise broader consultations before making decisions that could worsen the financial burden on commuters.
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