Accra: CUTS International, a public policy think tank and consumer protection advocate, has urged the government to take decisive action to ensure consumers benefit from the recent reduction in fuel prices. It called for Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to be empowered to deregister and ban commercial drivers who refused to comply with the 15 per cent fare reduction announced by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU).
According to Ghana News Agency, a statement signed by Mr. Appiah Kusi Adomako, West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International, described the drivers’ resistance as exploitative and unfair to the commuting public. The GPRTU announced the fare reduction, effective Saturday, May 24, 2025, but some transport unions and drivers have failed to implement it, citing unrelated operational concerns such as the cost of engine oil and tyres.
The statement noted that transport fares remained one of the largest daily expenses for millions of Ghanaians, and any attempt to suppress a legitimate reduction was unacceptable. ‘Fuel prices have dropped significantly, and GPRTU has taken the commendable step of recommending lorry fare reductions by 15 per cent. 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,’ the statement said.
To protect consumers and restore discipline in the transport system, CUTS International proposed three key measures, including deregistering and banning 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,’ it stated.
It also recommended that compliant drivers be issued visible stickers as proof of adherence, allowing police and regulators to identify and sanction offenders. CUTS urged the government to temporarily authorise public universities, including the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, and University of Professional Studies, Accra, to deploy idle buses along affected routes to create a buffer for commuters and apply economic pressure on defiant operators.
The statement called for urgent investment and retooling of mass transport systems such as Ayalolo and Metro Mass Transit (MMT) and the construction of dedicated bus lanes to improve reliability and efficiency. ‘Globally, cities like London, New York, Seoul, and Berlin have strong public transport because their governments invest in it. Ghana must do the same,’ it advised. It noted that a strong state-run transport system would introduce healthy competition, improve service quality, and prevent arbitrary fare hikes.