“We will park our vehicles on June 10” – GPRTU threatens nationwide strike over GH¢1 fuel levy

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has threatened a nationwide strike. This strike is planned for Tuesday, June 10. The reason is the introduction of a GH¢1 levy on petroleum products.

The GPRTU represents over 200,000 drivers and vehicle owners. They express collective outrage over this new levy. According to them, it was introduced without proper consultation.

At a press conference, Abass Ibrahim Imoro spoke on behalf of GPRTU. He said the GH¢1 increase per litre raises operational costs by 6.7%. This assumes an average fuel price of GH¢15 per litre.

Imoro warned that this levy could lead to a fare hike of 10-15%. Many urban Ghanaians rely on public transport and cannot afford this increase. He called on the government to reverse the levy immediately.

He urged the government to engage with stakeholders about future decisions. If their demands are ignored, they will park their vehicles on June 10, 2025. Imoro emphasized the potential negative impact on the economy.

In another statement, Imoro accused the John Mahama government of betrayal. He claimed they were not informed about the Energy Sector Levy during fare negotiations.

He expressed frustration that they agreed to a 15% fare cut without knowing about this new charge. “It’s painful that they didn’t disclose this,” he said.

Imoro highlighted that transport operators play a significant role in fuel consumption. He believes they should have been consulted before implementing such changes.

He concluded by stating that if no engagement occurs before June 10, they may proceed with their strike plans.