The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has dismissed reports suggesting a 20% hike in public transport fares set to take effect on Friday, August 8, 2025.
In a press statement released Tuesday, August 5, COPEC clarified that its engagement with key transport unions, including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), revealed no official confirmation of such an increment.
The Chamber described the proposed fare adjustment, reportedly announced by the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC), as unjustified, particularly at a time when many Ghanaians are grappling with rising living costs.
COPEC’s Executive Secretary, Duncan Amoah, pointed out that despite the recent introduction of a GH¢1 per litre fuel levy by the government, pump prices have generally seen a decline over the past few months.
“For context, fuel prices, which were around GH¢15 per litre in January 2025, have dropped to between GH¢11 and GH¢12 in recent months,” he noted. “Some driver unions even reduced fares by about 15%, although others refused and had to be compelled by local authorities to comply.”
Amoah argued that current fuel pricing levels do not justify any further fare hikes, adding that “there is no solid basis for using today’s figures to push for increased transport costs when they are still far below the January highs.”
He also cautioned against factoring the potential return of road tolls into current fare discussions, stating that the reintroduction of tolls remains speculative and should not influence decisions at this stage.
COPEC expressed support for the position of the GPRTU, which has already rejected the proposed fare increase, citing stable prices of fuel and spare parts.
Amoah concluded by calling on all stakeholders to engage in broader consultations before implementing any fare changes that could place additional financial pressure on commuters.
