The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has suspended its planned nationwide strike over the controversial GH¢1 fuel levy after reaching a temporary understanding with the government.
The strike, which was originally scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, was called off after the Ministry of Transport engaged union leaders and postponed the implementation of the levy to June 16.
Confirming the decision to 3News on Monday, June 9, the GPRTU’s Public Relations Officer, Abass Imoro, said,“We have called off the intended sit-down strike action we came up with. We’ve been engaged by the Transport Ministry. We shall communicate our final decision taken on June 16.”
The union had previously warned the government, describing the new levy as a unilateral decision that would increase hardship on transport operators already grappling with rising fuel costs.
They criticised the tax, stating it lacked proper stakeholder consultation and would impose “serious hardship” on commercial drivers.
The fuel levy was introduced under the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, passed by Parliament on June 3 and signed into law by President John Dramani Mahama on June 5. The new levy mandates a GH¢1 increase per litre on petroleum products.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has defended the tax as necessary to address a ballooning energy sector debt, which stands at \$3.1 billion. He said the estimated GH¢5.7 billion in expected revenue will also help the government procure \$1.2 billion worth of fuel to sustain thermal power generation in 2025.
However, the levy has provoked widespread public backlash, with civil society groups, opposition parties, driver unions, and consumers warning of its potential to deepen the economic strain on ordinary Ghanaians.
The implementation of the levy has now been pushed to June 16 following stakeholder consultation.
