COPEC Urges GPRTU to Reconsider Proposed 30% Fare Hike as Inflation Risks Mount

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has appealed to the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to reconsider its proposed 30% increase in transport fares, warning that such a steep adjustment could intensify inflationary pressures and further strain household budgets.

COPEC argued that while transport operators face genuine cost pressures—particularly from rising fuel prices and maintenance expenses—the proposed increase appears excessive under current economic conditions. The chamber called for broader consultations among transport unions, regulators and government before any fare adjustment is implemented.

The intervention follows GPRTU’s warning that it could raise fares by 30% if fuel prices continue to climb. Transport fares remain a key driver of inflation in Ghana, with increases typically feeding through to food prices, logistics costs and the broader cost of living.

COPEC urged stakeholders to pursue a more balanced approach that protects the financial sustainability of transport operators while cushioning commuters from a sharp rise in living costs. The chamber also renewed calls for a transparent, formula-based mechanism for determining transport fares, reducing the need for recurring disputes whenever fuel prices fluctuate.