Associate Professor of Business Economics and Actuarial Science at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Abdullah Abdul-Mumuni, has called for accuracy in the implementation of the proposed 8 percent increase in transport fares, stressing that the approved adjustment must not simply be rounded up to 10 percent.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Adekyee Mu Nsem programme in Accra-Tema on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Professor Abdul-Mumuni explained that the approved percentage increase must first be applied accurately to the existing fare to determine the amount passengers are expected to pay.
According to him, if a passenger currently pays GH¢10 for a journey, an 8 percent increase would amount to GH¢0.80, resulting in a new fare of GH¢10.80.
He stressed that the additional 80 pesewas represents the actual 8 percent adjustment and should not automatically be treated as a 10 percent increase simply because of difficulties associated with collecting smaller denominations.
Professor Abdul-Mumuni, however, acknowledged that implementing the exact increase could present practical challenges for both transport operators and passengers.
He noted that Ghana’s everyday transport system has difficulties dealing with small denominations such as 5, 10 and 20 pesewas, with such coins having become less significant in ordinary transactions.
According to him, the situation creates a practical challenge when calculating and collecting transport fares because applying the exact percentage increase can sometimes produce amounts that are difficult to collect from passengers.
He therefore called for a clear distinction between the mathematical calculation of the approved fare increase and the practical arrangement for collecting the resulting fare.
Professor Abdul-Mumuni stressed that policymakers and transport operators must not confuse the two issues, insisting that where an 8 percent adjustment has been approved, the calculation must first be based strictly on 8 percent before any practical collection arrangement is considered.
The economist also pointed to fuel prices and other external factors as important factors affecting the cost of operating commercial transport services.
He said transport operators continue to face various operating costs, including expenditure on fuel, vehicle maintenance and other inputs needed to keep their businesses running.
At the same time, he acknowledged the economic difficulties facing passengers, noting that increases in transport fares have a direct impact on household budgets, particularly for people who rely on commercial vehicles for their daily movement.
Professor Abdul-Mumuni said there is therefore a need to strike a practical balance between the sustainability of transport operations and the ability of passengers to afford the fares.
He cautioned against simply rounding up fare adjustments without considering the economic implications for passengers.
He maintained that an approved 8 percent increase should not automatically become 10 percent merely because the exact amount may be difficult to collect.
According to him, the key issue is to ensure that both passengers and transport operators clearly understand how the newly adjusted fares are calculated.
He also stressed the need for clear communication from policymakers and transport authorities to ensure that passengers know exactly what they are expected to pay once the new fares take effect.
Professor Abdul-Mumuni said accurate calculations and clear communication would help prevent disagreements between passengers and drivers over newly adjusted fares.
He further explained that the issue goes beyond the percentage increase itself, as the adjustment has implications for the wider transport system and the millions of people who depend on commercial vehicles for their daily activities.
He said transport operators must be able to recover rising operational costs, while passengers must also be protected from arbitrary increases beyond the officially approved adjustment.
Professor Abdul-Mumuni therefore called for a practical implementation mechanism that respects the approved 8 percent increase while taking into account the difficulties associated with the use of very small denominations in Ghana’s transport system.
He said the focus should ultimately be on ensuring that the adjustment is transparent, accurately calculated and clearly communicated to both drivers and passengers.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah