Transporters 

Road transport is the predominant mode of transport in Ghana, accounting for 94% of freight and 97% of passenger traffic movements. The public transportation is dominated by the private sector, which is competitive with no restriction to entry. Majority of operators are grouped into unions, the biggest being the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU). Several rural areas are solely dependent on privately-owned and privately run transportation. 

A significant proportion of private individual operators, with fleet sizes between four and ten characterise the freight sector. These firms lack proper administrative and management structures and have little or no records on their operations.  Most of the operators in this category are unable to purchase new vehicles, so their fleet composition is weighted towards older models.  These operators depend on the services of private wayside garages. The other category of operators is the well-established freight companies.  There are local owned firms, joint local/foreign owned companies, and foreign owned companies.  All these operators run their companies along proper business lines and keep good records on their operations.  Some of these operators, especially the international freight companies. 

Besides GPRTU, there is Ghana Haulage Truck Drivers Association [GHTDA] which started operations in September 1993.  GHTDA is aimed primarily at protecting drivers legally, improve driver working conditions and their relationship with the vehicle owners.  GHTDA has local and regional branches across the country.  The Association does not have its own trucks but operates trucks owned by its members. 

One of the main challenges for the trucking industry is Ghana’s strict adherence to a 60-tons limit for transit cargo is pushing haulage companies into neighbouring countries like Benin, Togo, and Côte d’Ivoire, where they can load up to 68 tonnes. The situation has arisen out of the lack of a uniform load limit for truckers in the ECOWAS sub-region. 

For more information on transport company contact details, please see the following link: 4.8 Transporter Contact List.