Government to meet transport operators over alleged fare manipulation

The Ministry of Transport is set to hold talks with commercial transport operators following concerns that some players in the sector may be deliberately creating artificial scarcity to justify high fares.

The Minister of Government Communications, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, disclosed this during his weekly Accountability Series media briefing in Accra on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.

Responding to claims that recent macroeconomic improvements have not filtered down to ordinary Ghanaians, Mr Kwakye Ofosu rejected the assertion, insisting that government policies were beginning to ease cost pressures.

He cited the sustained reduction in fuel prices as “clear and verifiable evidence” that living costs were coming down.

“It is incorrect to suggest that the positive macroeconomic indicators are not translating into tangible benefits for the people,” the minister stated.

He added that, “The reduction in prices of fuel at the pumps is a direct counter-example, putting money back into the pockets of households and businesses.”

Turning to the transport sector, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said the planned engagement would focus on what the government views as rent-seeking behaviour by some operators.

He alleged that certain transport operators were deliberately reducing the availability of vehicles to keep fares high, despite measures introduced by the government to lower their operating costs.

According to him, these measures include recent reductions in fuel prices and the removal of import duties on selected spare parts.

“We have had some reductions in the prices of fuel, we have removed import duties on the import of spare parts, all in a bid to cushion the transport sector and by extension the riding public,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu said.

“However, we are getting reports and complaints that some operators are engaging in rent-seeking by not making vehicles available so that they can create artificial scarcity and keep fares up,” he added.

He said the forthcoming meeting was expected to provide a platform for dialogue to ensure that the benefits of government relief measures were passed on to commuters through corresponding fare adjustments.

As this year’s first Accountability Series briefing, Mr Kwakye Ofosu also highlighted other government interventions he said had contributed to recent economic progress. These include efforts to curb illegal mining, as well as major infrastructure investments under the government’s Big Push programme.