Ghana’s Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) is pushing to replace political negotiations with a data-driven system for setting public transport fares.
This follows the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council’s suspended plan for a 20% fare hike, which cited persistently high costs of goods, services, and spare parts despite a 15% fare reduction in May.
COPEC Executive Secretary Duncan Amoah criticized the status quo, where unions and the Transport Ministry haggle over adjustments. “The current approach is outdated and breeds arbitrary pricing,” he warned. “Fares must be scientifically driven—not left to whims. In the petroleum sector, we calculate costs per litre per kilometer using clear metrics. Transport pricing deserves the same rigor.”
Amoah advocates for a transparent model incorporating real-time fuel prices, operational expenses, inflation trends, and maintenance costs. Such a framework, he argues, would make fare changes predictable, fair, and justifiable for both drivers and the millions of commuters relying on buses and taxis daily.
COPEC had prepared a legal challenge to the proposed August 8 fare increase but paused action after the Council suspended its plan. Analysts suggest adopting COPEC’s model could depoliticize fare adjustments, curb disputes, and restore public trust in a system vital for an economy where over 70% depend on public transit.
For now, commuters wait as stakeholders debate whether numbers—not negotiations—should steer the wheel.
