From the early morning trotro hustle in Accra to the long, dusty cross-border haul from Aflao to Ouagadougou, public transport users across Ghana are feeling the pinch. Fare hikes are creeping in quietly, but steadily, and for many, the cost of simply getting from Point A to B is becoming a financial burden.
Today’s public transport fare update shows a clear trend: fuel price increases and inflationary pressure are pushing up transport fares, and routes that span long distances or cross national borders are the hardest hit. According to field monitoring by Dip & Well Analytics and data gathered from terminals in Accra and Aflao, commuters are now paying more for the same journeys than they did just two weeks ago.
In Accra, the average trotro fare for short intracity trips such as Circle to Madina, Lapaz to Kaneshie, or Nungua to 37 has increased from GHS 4.00 to around GHS 4.80 or GHS 5.00, depending on the route and traffic conditions. Transport unions like the GPRTU and PROTOA confirm that adjustments were necessary due to rising fuel and spare parts costs. Petrol and diesel now sell at GHS 14.85 and GHS 15.10 respectively, according to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and updates from GOIL, Shell, and TotalEnergies stations across Accra.
For those making longer journeys, the pinch is even tighter. Passengers boarding VIP and STC buses from Accra to Aflao now pay between GHS 75 and GHS 85, up from GHS 70 just last month. Travel from Aflao to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital, has seen the most dramatic jump. Once priced around GHS 350 to GHS 370, the route now averages GHS 400 to GHS 430, depending on the transport company and route length. Operators cite not only rising fuel prices but also border fees, road tolls, and extended customs delays as contributing factors.
But why do prices vary so widely between towns like Accra and Aflao, or even for the same journey booked on different days?
Transport economists at the Institute for Energy Security (IES) point to several critical factors. First is fuel logistics. Cities like Accra, being closer to fuel depots in Tema, enjoy slightly cheaper wholesale prices, while border towns like Aflao rely on fuel that has travelled farther, raising transportation costs per litre. Second, vehicle maintenance plays a big role. Poor road networks in some regions cause frequent breakdowns, and the cost is passed on to passengers. Lastly, exchange rate fluctuations impact cross-border journeys significantly. With the cedi now trading at GHS 10.33 to the dollar, and the CFA exchange rate hovering around CFA 1,000 = GHS 18.02, cross-border operators dealing with fees in foreign currencies are left with little choice but to revise prices.
According to data from the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) and daily reports from regional STC terminals, fares on intercity routes like Accra–Tamale, Accra–Kumasi, and Accra–Takoradi are also climbing gradually. However, the sharpest increases are being felt on international routes, especially those running through multiple borders like Aflao to Ouagadougou, via Paga or Hamile.
Commuters and transport operators alike are calling for government intervention, including targeted subsidies or policy reform to cushion rising operational costs. Until then, Ghanaians may have to brace themselves for a continued rise in the cost of commuting.
