Public transport must not be left entirely to private operators – NPA CEO

Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has warned that public transport should not be entirely controlled by private operators due to national security concerns. Speaking on TV3's NewDay morning show, Tameklo criticized the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) for threatening to increase transport fares in response to rising fuel prices. He argued that no country in the world operates a public transport system where private operators have complete control.

Tameklo emphasized that the Ghanaian government has made significant sacrifices to maintain stable fuel prices, including a GH₵2 subsidy on petroleum products that will be extended until September. He argued that the government has also stabilized the cedi to reduce the cost of importing spare parts, which has benefited spare parts dealers. Tameklo accused private operators of being disingenuous in their threat to raise fares while ignoring these government interventions.

He urged the GPRTU, specifically Chairman Abulbire, to consider the national security implications of holding the government "to ransom." Tameklo highlighted how prudent management of the cedi has helped spare parts dealers, allowing them to import more goods for the same amount of money. He concluded by calling on the Finance Minister to invest in more buses for the state in the 2027 budget, stating that doing so would protect the public interest and ensure stability in the public transport sector.