Accra, April 9, – Government has announced a package of emergency interventions aimed at reducing the impact of rising global oil prices, including fuel price reductions and the deployment of mass transport services.
Cabinet has directed the Finance and Energy Ministries to implement cuts in fuel prices through the removal of selected taxes and margins on petroleum products. The measures are expected to take effect in the next pricing window within one week.
In a parallel intervention, the Transport Ministry has been tasked to immediately deploy 100 newly acquired Metro Mass Transit buses to help ease commuter pressures and stabilise transport fares.
Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, disclosed the decisions at a press briefing at the Presidency in Accra on Thursday.
He said the measures followed an emergency Cabinet meeting chaired by President John Dramani Mahama to assess the domestic impact of escalating tensions in the Middle East, particularly the United States–Israel–Iran conflict.
According to him, the conflict has triggered a surge in global crude oil and refined petroleum prices, with ripple effects on fuel prices at the pump.
“So the Cabinet convened a session to review these developments, assess their impact on the people of Ghana, and consider ways through which this can be mitigated,” he said.
Mr Ofosu noted that recent macroeconomic stability—including the appreciation and relative steadiness of the cedi and a drop in inflation to around 3.2 per cent—had helped cushion some of the external shocks.
He added that despite global pressures, domestic fuel prices remained lower than levels recorded during the 2022 Ukraine-related energy crisis.
However, he warned that recent increases across pricing windows could still push transport fares and general living costs upward if left unchecked.
He attributed the global price surge partly to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil transit route responsible for about 20 per cent of global crude shipments, leading to higher insurance and shipping costs.
Mr Ofosu said Cabinet had therefore opted for immediate fiscal and transport interventions to shield consumers from further price escalation.
The tax and margin adjustments, he explained, will remain in force for an initial four-week period before being reviewed based on prevailing market conditions.
He also disclosed that an additional 100 Metro Mass Transit buses are expected in August, with another 100 arriving in November, bringing the total fleet to 300.
The buses will be deployed along high-demand routes and are expected to offer fares lower than those charged by private operators, especially during peak travel hours.
“The Transport Minister has also been charged with ensuring that these Metro Mass buses… maintain fares lower than what private sector operators charge,” he said.
Mr Ofosu further indicated that the President has reiterated a strict directive for all Ministers and government appointees to comply with the ban on fuel allowances and allocations.
He said the directive applies uniformly across government without exception.
The Middle East conflict, which escalated into active hostilities on February 28, 2026, continues to affect global energy markets, although a two-week ceasefire is currently in place alongside ongoing diplomatic efforts.
GHBUSS
09 April 2026
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