Energy analyst Kwadwo Poku warned that short‑term measures will not address the challenges created by rising fuel prices. Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse, he called on the government to sit down with the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other private transport unions to agree on a fare‑adjustment mechanism that takes into account both increases and decreases in operating costs.
Poku said the proposed 30% rise in transport fares should not be linked solely to fuel price hikes, as operators also factor in other expenses such as insurance. He argued that a negotiated agreement should also require operators to reduce fares when fuel prices fall, preventing fare increases from lingering once the underlying cost drivers ease.
The analyst questioned the sustainability of the government’s current ad‑hoc interventions designed to cushion consumers against rising petroleum prices. “Government needs to find a way forward. This ad hoc way will not solve the problem,” he said. He added that pressure on petroleum prices is likely to persist, citing ongoing international market developments and the protracted nature of the war.
Poku urged the authorities to move beyond temporary measures and work with transport operators on a longer‑term framework for managing the impact of fuel price fluctuations on transport fares.
