CUTS International, a leading public policy think tank and a consumer protection advocate organization, has called on the government to take decisive action to ensure that consumers benefit from recent reductions in fuel prices.
The organization is urging the government to empower Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to deregister and ban commercial drivers who refuse to comply with the 15% reduction in transport fares announced by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
“Fuel prices have dropped significantly, and GPRTU has taken the commendable step of recommending lorry fare reductions by 15%,” said Appiah Kusi Adomako, West Africa Regional Director of CUTS. “It is only fair that passengers, many of whom are struggling with the high cost of living—should see the benefits of this reduction reflected in their daily transport costs.”
While the GPRTU’s directive took effect nationwide on Saturday, 24 May 2025, some transport unions and drivers have declined to implement the fare reduction, citing unrelated operational concerns. CUTS International views this resistance as exploitative and unfair to the commuting public.
“Transport fares are one of the biggest daily expenditures for millions of Ghanaians. Any attempt to suppress a legitimate fare reduction due to falling fuel prices is simply unacceptable,” Mr. Adomako stressed.
CUTS is proposing a three-pronged approach to protect consumers and restore discipline in the transport system.
Among them is to deregister and ban non-compliant drivers.
“MMDAs already have the mandate under local government laws to register and license commercial vehicles operating in their jurisdictions. Government should empower them to revoke the registration of drivers who refuse to comply with the new fare regime,” said Mr. Adomako.
He further proposed that “compliant drivers should be issued visible stickers as proof of adherence. This will allow the police and regulators to easily identify and sanction those who continue to exploit commuters.”
During this period of economic shift CUTS International is urging the government to deploy Idle University Buses: CUTS suggests that the government temporarily authorize public universities, such as the University of Ghana, KNUST, UCC, and UPSA, to deploy their often-idle campus buses along affected routes. This would create a buffer for commuters and put economic pressure on defiant operators to reverse course,” Mr. Adomako added.
Finally, CUTS is calling for investment in public mass transport:
CUTS emphasized that a long-term solution lies in strengthening public transportation infrastructure.
“Globally, cities like London, New York, Seoul, and Berlin have strong public transport because their governments invest in it. Ghana must do the same,” said Mr. Adomako.
He called for the urgent retooling of Ayalolo and Metro Mass Transit (MMT), along with the construction of dedicated bus lanes to improve reliability and efficiency.
“A strong state-run transport system can introduce healthy competition, improve service quality, and prevent arbitrary fare hikes.”
Although Ghana operates a liberalized economy, CUTS noted that this does not prevent the government from introducing rational pricing frameworks, similar to how the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) uses a pricing formula for fuel—to guide public transport fare setting in times of sharp fuel price changes.
“We need consumer-focused transport reforms that promote affordability, fairness, and safety,” Mr. Adomako concluded. “Now is the time for action.”
