The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has officially suspended its planned strike over the newly introduced GH₵1 fuel levy, following a crucial meeting with the Ministry of Energy.
The industrial action, which was scheduled to begin on Tuesday, June 10, was called off after union leaders received detailed clarification from government officials regarding the purpose and implementation of the controversial fuel charge.
Speaking on The Pulse on Joy News on Monday, June 9, GPRTU’s Deputy Public Relations Officer, Samuel Amoah, confirmed the decision to cancel the protest.
“The strike action has been suspended based on a meeting the (GPRTU) leadership had with the Ministry just this afternoon,” he said.
Initially, the union had strongly opposed the fuel levy, warning that it would worsen the already high cost of operations for drivers and commercial transport operators. However, Mr. Amoah explained that the Energy Ministry provided further insight into the government’s rationale, particularly its objective of ensuring a consistent fuel supply and maintaining stability in Ghana’s energy sector.
“Our concern was that we didn’t want the levy to be passed down directly at the pump, increasing the fuel prices for drivers and commuters,” Mr. Amoah emphasized.
While the strike has been put on hold, the GPRTU made it clear that it will continue to monitor the situation closely. The union also plans to maintain open communication with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the needs and concerns of its members are addressed moving forward.
