The Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana has announced a 15% increase in transport fares, effective Monday, July 22.

This decision comes in response to the escalating cost of fuel and essential vehicle maintenance items, which have significantly impacted the transport sector.

Public Relations Officer of the association, David Agboado, explained in an interview with Citi FM on Wednesday, July 17, that the surge in fuel prices has left drivers with no choice but to raise fares.

He noted that some oil marketing companies are now selling fuel at prices exceeding GH₵15 per litre, placing additional financial strain on drivers.

"We will be increasing transport fares by Monday by 15%. The reason is that fuel prices have gone high. All that we use in servicing our vehicles has gone high. That necessitated the 15% increment," Mr. Agboado stated.

The fare hike is also driven by the rising cost of spare parts, which are crucial for maintaining vehicles in good working condition. Mr. Agboado emphasized that drivers are unable to continue absorbing these increasing costs, which are eroding their earnings and threatening the sustainability of their operations.

"The fare increase is justified given the current economic pressures," he added, highlighting that the decision was necessary to ensure the viability of the transport sector.

The association clarified that the Transport Ministry was not consulted regarding this fare adjustment. "Transport Ministry is not aware and we don’t need to sit with Transport Ministry before we increase our transport fares. We keep saying this," Mr. Agboado asserted.

This announcement comes amid a series of price hikes by several oil marketing companies (OMCs) at the start of July’s second pricing window. Shell, a leading OMC, has increased the price of a litre of petrol from GH₵14.80 to GH₵15.10, and a litre of diesel from GH₵14.92 to GH₵15.25. Other OMCs are expected to follow suit, further driving up fuel costs.