The country faces imminent crises as commercial transport operators issue a definitive threat of a nationwide strike starting Tuesday, June 10, 2025.

The drastic measure is a direct protest against the newly enacted GH¢1 levy on petroleum products, which operators fear could cripple their livelihoods and inflate fares for millions of commuters.

Addressing a tense press conference in Accra on Thursday, June 5, Abass Ibrahim Imoro, the Industrial Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), voiced the collective outrage of over 200,000 drivers and vehicle owners nationwide.

He condemned the levy as a "unilateral decision" taken without adequate consultation, warning it would impose "untoward hardship" on the transport sector.

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"This GH¢1 increment per litre, which translates to a direct 6.7% surge in our primary operational cost [assuming an average fuel price of GH¢15/litre], comes on the heels of already escalating expenses," Imoro stated.

He highlighted that transport operators have already contended with a 15-20% rise in spare parts, maintenance, and insurance costs over the past year.

"This new levy could force us to implement a 10-15% fare hike, a burden that over 60% of urban Ghanaians who rely on public transport daily simply cannot bear."

The GPRTU and allied transport associations are demanding an immediate reversal of the policy and a comprehensive engagement with the government and relevant stakeholders.

"We are therefore calling on the government to reverse the levy immediately and engage us and stakeholders on the way forward," Imoro declared, setting a clear ultimatum.

"In the event that our call is not heeded, we will be compelled to take industrial action and park our vehicles on June 10, 2025. We urge the government to consider the impact of the levy on the transport sector and the catastrophic consequences of our action on the economy, and engage us in meaningful deliberations to help address challenges in the energy sector."

The controversial levy, enshrined in the recently assented Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed by Parliament this week.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has argued that the new levy is crucial to generate an estimated GH¢5.7 billion in revenue to reduce the nation's ballooning energy sector debt, which stands at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.

He also cited the need for an additional US$1.2 billion to procure fuel for thermal power generation throughout 2025.

The Minister had assured that the recent gains made by the Ghana Cedi would absorb the levy's impact, preventing an immediate increase in ex-pump prices.

However, transport operators remain unconvinced, asserting that any additional burden on fuel costs will inevitably translate into higher fares, impacting every facet of the Ghanaian economy, from daily commutes to the movement of goods and services.

A nationwide transport strike could cripple economic activity, disrupt supply chains, and strand millions of citizens, presenting an immediate crisis for the government.

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