The Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) says it will implement its proposed 30% increase in transport fares if the government does not respond to its proposal by Thursday, September 10, 2026. GRTCC General Secretary, Emmanuel Ohene Yeboah, said the proposed fare adjustment was informed by rising operational costs and was not solely linked to the increasing prices of spare parts at Abossey Okai.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Monday, September 7, Yeboah said the council had submitted the proposal to the Ministry of Transport and had set September 10 as the intended implementation date. “We’ve given it to the ministry. We’ve given them, we’ve taken our percentage, we’ve indicated our timelines,” he said. When asked whether the council would go ahead with the increase if the ministry failed to respond by Thursday, Yeboah responded in the affirmative.
“Yes, yes, yes,” he said.
Yeboah also dismissed claims by the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association that increases in spare-parts prices were insufficient to warrant the proposed fare adjustment. According to him, the GRTCC considers a broader range of operating costs and is not required to base its fare decisions solely on prices set by spare-parts dealers.
“Our consideration is that we can also say, on authority, that for the past, since 2024, there hasn’t been any price increase in terms of transport fares,” he said. He cited rising fuel prices, insurance premiums, Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) charges and other operational expenses as factors contributing to the council’s decision.
Yeboah further explained that the council had reduced transport fares by 50% in April when fuel was selling at about GH¢13 per litre. However, fuel prices have since increased to approximately GH¢18 per litre.
“How do you expect us to operate at 18 cedis per litre and charge for 13 cedis per litre? It’s not possible to do it, actually,” he said.
Yeboah emphasised that transport operators are businesses that must generate enough revenue to cover maintenance, operating costs, and ensure both profitability and safety. He explained that the council’s proposal was based on its own market observations, operational experience, and cost assessments affecting members. He rejected claims that the proposed fare increase targeted any specific group or business, stressing: “What we are saying is that we have a general operational cost that needs to be adjusted.”
His remarks came after a heated exchange with the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association, which dismissed suggestions that spare-parts prices had risen enough to justify a 30% fare hike. The association’s Communications Director, Takyi Addo, argued that most spare-parts prices remain relatively stable and urged transport operators not to cite Abossey Okai in their case for higher fares. Yeboah, however, maintained that the GRTCC’s proposal was grounded in its own operational figures, independent of the dealers’ position.
“We issue the communique based on our numbers we have found on the market, based on our own observation and operational experiences,” he said, adding that the council’s goal is to secure sufficient revenue for safe and sustainable operations. The proposed 30% fare increase now awaits a response from the Ministry of Transport, with the GRTCC warning that implementation could begin on September 10 if no directive is issued.
