Commercial transport operations across Ghana are expected to grind to a halt on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, following a strike declaration by five transport unions.
The action, announced in a statement issued on Sunday, November 1, is being spearheaded by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), alongside the Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana, the True Drivers Union, the Ghana Committed Drivers Association, and the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana.
Why the unions are striking
At the heart of the protest is the unions’ frustration with the government’s failure to enforce L.I. 2519 (Regulation 142), which prohibits trading at bus stops and on pedestrian walkways.
According to the unions, traders have persistently taken over designated bus stops, leaving commercial drivers with little or no space to pick up and drop off passengers. They argue that the situation has been left unaddressed for too long, despite repeated engagements with the authorities.
The unions also took issue with what they consider an imbalance in the enforcement of the law. While drivers continue to be fined through the government’s TRAFFITECH-GH traffic monitoring system for stopping outside designated areas, they say the state has done nothing to clear the traders occupying those same spaces.
In effect, drivers are being penalised for violations they claim are largely outside their control.
What happens on Wednesday
Under the directive, all commercial drivers have been instructed to park their vehicles for the entire day, with the shutdown remaining in force “until further notice.”
The unions apologised to commuters and the general public for the disruption the action is expected to cause, but maintained that the strike was a last resort, taken only after all other avenues had been exhausted.
Advisory to the public
The shutdown is likely to disrupt the movement of thousands of commuters who rely on commercial vehicles — including trotro and taxi services — for their daily activities. Members of the public have been advised to make alternative transport arrangements ahead of Wednesday’s action.
By Gufty Boateng