Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Professional Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Samuel Amoah, warned that persistent fuel price increases are crushing the financial viability of commercial drivers nationwide. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Wednesday, September 16, Amoah explained that the escalating cost of petrol is eroding drivers’ ability to meet daily revenue targets, leaving them with little or no profit after covering operational expenses.
"By the grace of every working day, most of the drivers cannot even make their sales. And if a driver doesn't make his sales, then it means he is not going to get any money," Amoah said. The union reports that many commercial vehicles are now stranded in workshops because owners cannot afford the high cost of repairs.
"When the vehicle gets spoiled, it will be very difficult for the driver to also repair the vehicle. This has resulted in most of our vehicles being at the workshop without money to repair them," he added. The financial strain is compounded by rising household costs, including utility bills and education expenses for drivers’ children.
"The suffering now is causing a serious financial loss, and every driver now is complaining bitterly that it's difficult for them to, you know, to live," Amoah said. "As you see, everything has gone up: electricity, water, you know, other children are going to school. You know, this is the only business I would do to run the home. And because all these things are very, very high, it's very difficult for the drivers to also, you know, continue with the business we are doing."
The GPRTU is calling on the government and fuel regulators to intervene and stabilize prices to safeguard the livelihoods of drivers and the broader transport sector.
