High Cost of Transport Persists as Spare Parts Remain Expensive – Ranking Member, Roads and Transport Committee
The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Roads and Transport Committee, Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has attributed the persistent high cost of transportation in Ghana to the continued rise in the prices of vehicle spare parts, despite recent reductions in fuel prices and the relative stability of the cedi.
Speaking in an interview with Oyerepa News’ Kwaku Ansah at the Parliament House cafeteria, Hon. Osei Nyarko explained that transport operators are under severe financial pressure, largely due to the high cost of maintaining their vehicles.
According to him, spare parts alone account for about 65 per cent of drivers’ operational costs, making it difficult for transport fares to reduce in line with falling fuel prices.
“Drivers keep complaining that while fuel prices may have gone down slightly, the cost of spare parts remains very high and static. This is the biggest contributor to their operational expenses,” he stated.
He noted that most spare parts used in the country are imported, and fluctuations in foreign exchange, coupled with taxes and port charges, continue to push prices upward. This situation, he said, directly affects transport fares across the country.
Hon. Osei Nyarko further disclosed that some driver unions are already considering an upward review of transport fares, arguing that the current charges do not adequately reflect the distances they cover and the cost of maintaining their vehicles.
“Some of the unions believe that the current transport fares are no longer sustainable when you consider the distances covered and the cost of servicing and repairing vehicles,” he added.
The Ranking Member called on government to prioritise policies that will reduce the cost of spare parts, including reviewing import duties and strengthening local manufacturing of vehicle components.
He stressed that without addressing the spare parts challenge, any reduction in fuel prices may not translate into lower transport fares, as drivers will continue to pass operational costs onto passengers.
The comments come amid growing public concern over transport fares, with commuters questioning why fares remain high despite recent adjustments in fuel prices.