Drivers’ union announces 20% fare increase over rising costs

The Alliance of Drivers Ghana has announced a 20 percent increase in transport fares, effective Monday, March 17, citing rising fuel prices, escalating engine oil costs, and the increasing prices of vehicle spare parts.

Speaking to Citi News, the group’s National Public Relations Officer, Kwaku Boateng, appealed to commuters to understand the financial challenges facing the transport sector.

He noted that drivers have absorbed rising operational costs for months, but the continuous surge in expenses has made a fare adjustment unavoidable.

“The 2025 budget came, and we heard nothing about tariff reductions, yet the Finance Minister stood and spoke the whole day.

“We are going to increase our fares by 20 percent, and we are pleading with our passengers to bear with us because the price of engine oil and spare parts have all gone up.”

Ghana’s transport sector has faced significant economic challenges in recent years, with periodic fuel price hikes and increasing maintenance costs straining both drivers and passengers.

The rising prices of engine oil, tires, and spare parts, coupled with inflation and currency depreciation, have made it difficult for transport operators to sustain their businesses without fare adjustments.

Several transport unions and driver associations have previously appealed to the government for policies to ease the financial burden on commercial drivers, but according to Boateng, these appeals have yielded little to no results.