Ghana’s roads could see a major disruption next week, as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has threatened to ground all commercial vehicles nationwide on Monday, June 10, over the newly approved GHC1.00 fuel levy, dubbed the “Dumsor Levy.”
The move follows Parliament’s recent passage of the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which imposes a GHC1 increase per litre on petroleum products. The government says the measure is necessary to address the country’s growing energy sector debt, but commercial drivers say it could push their businesses to the brink.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, Industrial Public Relations Officer for GPRTU, Abass Ibrahim Imoro, described the levy as a “harsh and inconsiderate policy” introduced without proper consultation.
“This levy is going to hit our members hard. It will increase fuel prices, operational costs, and make it nearly impossible for many drivers to break even,” he said. “We are calling on the government to reverse this decision immediately and open dialogue with us.”
Imoro warned that if their demands are not met, the union’s members will park their vehicles across the country beginning June 10, effectively halting commercial transport services nationwide.
The GPRTU, which represents a large portion of Ghana’s commercial drivers, argues that while the energy sector requires urgent attention, the financial burden should not be unfairly passed on to transport operators already grappling with high costs.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson defended the levy, saying it is expected to raise approximately GHC5.7 billion to help settle a $3.1 billion energy debt and secure $1.2 billion worth of fuel for thermal power plants in 2025.
But for drivers like Kojo Mensah, who operates a trotro route between Madina and Kaneshie, the levy feels like a “punishment” for a problem they didn’t create. “We’re already spending over half of our daily income on fuel. This extra GHC1 is not sustainable,”
As the standoff intensifies, commuters are being urged to prepare for potential disruptions, while calls grow for the government to urgently engage transport unions to avoid an industrial shutdown that could paralyse key sectors of the economy.
