By Frank Kwame Abbor
Ho, May 19, GNA – Commercial rickshaw riders operating within the Ho Municipality have appealed to the Ho Municipal Assembly to review and reduce the cost of Assembly stickers imposed on their operations, describing the current charges as unsustainable.
The riders, in a petition addressed to Mr Stephen Adom, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ho on May 15, 2026, called for the sticker fee to be reduced from GH¢100 to GH¢20, the same rate applied to taxis and urban buses.
Copies of the petition were also forwarded to Mr Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister; Mr Edem Kofi Kpotosu, Member of Parliament for Ho Central; Mr Mawunyo Agbe, Presiding Member of the Ho Municipal Assembly; the Trades Union Congress (TUC); NUTOG National; and the media.
According to the petition, signed by Mr Peter Yao Agbo, Deputy Secretary, and Mr Enyonam Goh, Zonal Chairman of the riders’ association, the commercial tricycle transport business had become increasingly difficult due to rising operational costs and low profit margins.
According to the petition, commercial rickshaws continued to provide affordable and accessible transport services to thousands of residents across the municipality, particularly in communities where taxis and buses were limited.
“We provide affordable last-mile transport services to residents daily, especially around markets, schools and health facilities where transport services are often inadequate,” it stated.
The Association noted that fuel prices, spare parts, insurance costs, and vehicle maintenance expenses had increased significantly over the past two years, making it difficult for operators to remain profitable.
“After fuel, maintenance, and payments to vehicle owners, the average daily income left for many riders is very low,” the petition added.
It indicated that beyond the Assembly sticker fees, riders were already paying other charges, including embossment fees, association dues, and taxes to operate legally within the municipality.
The petitioners appealed to the Assembly to engage leaders of the commercial rickshaw riders’ associations in a stakeholder meeting to agree on a fair and enforceable rate that would balance municipal revenue mobilisation with the economic realities facing operators.
“We are committed to obeying the law and contributing to the development of the municipality, but the current sticker cost is affecting our livelihoods,” they said.
They argued that a reduction in sticker fees would encourage more riders to register officially and comply with Assembly regulations, thereby improving revenue mobilisation in the long term.
“A fair tax structure will support youth employment, improve compliance, and reduce pressure on the Assembly to create jobs directly,” the petition noted.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Lydia Kukua Asamoah