Show evidence of higher operating costs to justify fare hike – NPA CEO to transport operators

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has called on private transport operators seeking higher fares to demonstrate how their operating expenses have increased.

His comments follow renewed demands from transport groups, including the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Progressive Transport Owners Association (PROTOA), for an upward adjustment in fares, with rising fuel prices cited as a key reason.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, September 16, Mr Tamakloe said fuel prices should not be considered in isolation when determining whether transport fares ought to be increased.

According to him, a comprehensive assessment of the operators’ cost structure, including expenditure on fuel, spare parts and other inputs, was necessary before any fare adjustment could be justified.

He also pointed to the relative stability of the Ghana cedi as a factor that had helped contain increases in the cost of imported spare parts.

“Have you seen the operational cost of the private transport operators? Have you seen it?” he asked.

“Because if you come to believe that two principal things are the cause of the buildup, the cause of spare parts, and we do know that because spare parts are not produced in Ghana, it is produced outside, and you need dollars to go and buy, and the dollar is relatively stable.”

Mr Tamakloe argued that the stability of the local currency had reduced the pressure that could otherwise have been transmitted to transport operators through higher spare-parts costs.

“What it means is that through government’s intervention, by way of stability of the Cedi, that impact that would have come from spare parts and what have you, has been largely stabilised,” he said.

While acknowledging the significant rise in fuel prices, the NPA chief said government had taken measures aimed at shielding consumers from the full effect of the increases.

He noted that the international price of diesel had climbed sharply from about $794 per tonne in February 2026 to approximately $1,519, representing almost a doubling within the period.