By Dennis Peprah, GNA
Sunyani, (Bono), April 10, GNA-Mr Raphael Godlove Ahenu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Sunyani-based Global Media Foundation (GloMeF) has called on the Ministry of Transport to ensure that fixing of lorry fares benefit both passengers and transport operators amid increase of prices of fuel at the pumps.
He said intervention was required by the Ministry to avert the looming misunderstanding between private commercial transport operators and passengers at the various bus terminals in the country amid an increase in prices of fuel.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, Mr Ahenu bemoaned that commercial transport companies like the VIP Jeoun Transport Limited had adjusted their fares upward which he added was unfair.
“Transport operators must be held accountable when adjusting fares, especially when fuel prices fluctuate,” he stated.
Mr Ahenu cited that: “For a significant period in 2025, petrol prices in Ghana dropped to around GH¢9–GH¢10 per litre, yet many private transport operators, particularly, the VIP fail to reduce transport fares to reflect the reduced operational costs”.
He argued that while some transport companies complied with national fare adjustment directives and reduced their lorry fares during the periods of lower fuel prices, VIP Transport maintained higher charges for passengers across major routes.
Mr Ahenu’s call followed the announcement of the new lorry fares of the VIP Jeoun Transport company effective April 8, 2026.
The revised fares of the Accra-Kumasi fare are between GH¢150 and GH¢120 depending on the type of bus, with Accra-Tamale routes pegging at GH¢360.
Mr Ahenu said that: “Fare adjustments should not be one-sided”, stating that: “The transport companies must also reduce fares when fuel prices decline”.
“If the Ministry of Transport fails to regulate the transport sector fares, then, some unscrupulous private transport companies will continue to exploit passengers through arbitrary fare increases”, he added.
Mr Ahenu indicated that the nation’s road transport system serviced millions of passengers daily, making it a critical sector that directly affected the cost of living, business operations, and national productivity.
He urged the government to introduce clear monitoring mechanisms and enforcement measures to ensure fairness and transparency in fare determination, calling on regulators to work with transport unions and private companies to create a transparent pricing framework that reflected fuel price movements and protected passengers from exploitation.
He said that measures would help restore public confidence in the transport sector and thereby ensure that passengers were not unfairly burdened by inconsistent fare policies.
GNA
Edited by Linda Asante Agyei