In a significant reversal, the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) has suspended a proposed 20% increase in public transport fares, following high-level consultations with the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
The decision comes just two days after the Council announced the fare hike, which was scheduled to take effect Friday, August 8, and was expected to impact shared taxis, trotro services, long-distance buses, and haulage transport. The move had triggered widespread public outcry and raised questions about the lack of broad-based stakeholder engagement in the fare-setting process.
In a formal statement released on Thursday, August 7, the GRTCC confirmed its decision to pause the hike.
“Transport Operators have agreed to suspend the purported 20% increment in public transport fares as a result of the lack of broader consultations on the decision.”
Public and Policy Pushback
The fare increase, though made under the Administrative Arrangement on Public Transport Fares, was met with resistance from commuters, civil society groups, and economic observers, many of whom criticised the timing of the adjustment amid signs of macroeconomic recovery and easing inflation.
Analysts say the suspension reflects growing public sensitivity to transport cost dynamics, especially as Ghana’s economy undergoes fiscal reforms under its IMF-supported recovery programme.
Transport operators have now been directed to strictly enforce the 15% fare reduction implemented on May 24, 2025, which remains the official benchmark.
The Ministry of Transport has commended the operators for their cooperation and pledged to broaden stakeholder consultations in future fare reviews to avoid similar backlash.
The suspension opens the door for renewed dialogue on cost-sharing models, fuel price impacts, and public transport regulation. The government is also expected to begin technical assessments into operational cost structures across various transport modes to inform a more data-driven fare policy.
