Transport fares have been announced to drop by 15%, starting Saturday, May 24, 2025, according to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
The Union made this announcement following a meeting between its National Executive Board and the Ministry of Transport.
Confirming to the media, the Public Relations Officer of the GPRTU, Abbas Ibrahim Moro, said, “We have finally agreed to reduce lorry fares by 15%, but it will take effect from Saturday. Although currently, spare parts sellers have promised to reduce some of their prices for now, which hasn’t taken effect, and none of the lubricants which went up have been reduced currently, but we decided to peg the reduction at 15%.”
The tariff adjustment reflects recent macroeconomic changes, particularly the cedi’s steady strengthening against the US dollar, which has contributed to a significant decline in fuel prices.
The move also follows the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association’s request to its members to lower the cost of auto parts in reaction to the better exchange rate.
Mr. Moro also mentions that the fare adjustment is a direct response to an 18% drop in fuel prices. He explained that although the Union typically applies a third of the fuel price decrease, they have opted for a 15% cut this time to ease the burden on passengers.
“We normally use one-third of the fuel price reduction to adjust fares, but we opted for 15% this time to reflect the fuel price trend. We also expect our counterparts in the spare parts industry to follow suit and reduce their prices,” he noted.
He also cautioned that GPRTU members who refuse to implement the fare cut will face consequences.
The most recent increase in transport fares was in March this year, when the Alliance of Drivers Ghana announced a 20% increase. The decision to adjust fares came as a result of soaring fuel prices, rising engine oil costs, and the continuous hike in vehicle spare parts prices.
According to drivers, they struggle daily to maintain their livelihoods due to frequent fuel price hikes, inflation, cedi depreciation, and increasing maintenance costs. The high costs of engine oil, tires, and spare parts make daily operations unsustainable, with some drivers spending almost half their earnings on fuel alone.
While these problems may still persist for a while, the transport fare reduction has come as a relief to commuters. Hopes are still high that prices of spare parts and other car essentials will be reduced to the advantage of car owners and drivers alike.
