COPEC Backs 20% Increase in Transport Fares
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has backed the 20 per cent increase in public transport fares announced by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana, with the new rates set to take effect from 2 June 2026.
COPEC Executive Secretary Duncan Amoah argued on Citi News Digest that the adjustment is both reasonable and overdue, given the mounting costs facing transport operators across the country.
Fare Increase Warranted, Says COPEC
“The transport operators have been quite magnanimous with all of us,” Mr Amoah said. “At this time, when already fuel prices are set to go up again on Monday, one could imagine that their operations could become unsustainable if they continue to charge the very old fares.”
He noted that operators had voluntarily reduced fares when fuel prices dropped, and argued it is only fair that they be allowed to adjust upward now that prices have returned to previous levels. “It would become quite a disservice to the GPRTU and other transport operators if we insist at this point that they should stick with the old fares,” he said.
Nevertheless, Mr Amoah expressed reservations about the specific figure. In his assessment, a 15 per cent increase would have been more appropriate. He acknowledged, however, that transport operators are likely factoring in a range of additional operational expenses beyond fuel alone, including rising insurance premiums and the escalating cost of spare parts.
A Wider Pattern of Cost Pressures
The fare adjustment reflects a broader economic reality facing Ghana’s transport sector. Intercity and long-distance operators have already revised their fares upward in recent weeks, driven by the same cost pressures. The GPRTU’s decision to formalise a 20 per cent increase for public transport effectively brings urban and peri-urban services into line with what long-distance operators have already implemented.
For commuters, particularly those on fixed or low incomes, the increase represents a significant hit to household budgets. Transport costs in Ghana already consume a disproportionate share of earnings for the working poor, and any upward adjustment reverberates through the broader economy as goods and services become more expensive to move.
The government has yet to comment officially on the fare increase. But with fuel prices expected to rise again at the next pricing window, pressure on transport operators is unlikely to ease. The question for policymakers is whether to absorb some of that cost through targeted subsidies or to allow the market to adjust while protecting the most vulnerable commuters through targeted social interventions.
Image Source: MYJOYONLINE
