Traders Advocacy Group calls for removal of Transport Minister over port charges, fares

The Traders Advocacy Group in Ghana is demanding the immediate dismissal of the Transport Minister, alleging incompetence in handling the transport sector. The group highlights the burden brought upon traders and the general public by alleged high charges at ports, soaring airfares, and increasing bus fares. Group General Secretary Emmanuel Opoku Acheampong stated that the minister has proven to be ineffective and that the government should replace him with immediate effect.

Evidence cited by the group includes exorbitant domestic air travel costs, with a ticket from Accra to Kumasi priced at over five thousand Ghana cedis. The group has been raising concerns about excessive charges at Ghana’s ports over the past two years, but claims their issues have not been adequately addressed, leaving businesses to face rising operational costs.

As a result, the traders are urging the President and government to intervene urgently to review port charges, as they believe these costs are significantly impacting businesses and consumers. The group is committed to rejecting unfair charges on Ghanaian businesses and warns that persistent issues could force them to raise product prices to cover the extra expenses.

Consequently, the group is calling on the government to take immediate action to address port charges and other transport-related costs to alleviate the burden on businesses and consumers.