Contrary to concerns of the motoring public, a member of the Spare Parts Dealers Association, Kwabena Owusu‑Ansah, has stated that prices of spare parts have been reduced at several shops across the country.
In an interview with Barima Kofi Dawson on Nhyira FM’s “Kro Yi Mu Nsɛm,” he stated that the association has a monitoring team visiting various workshops across the country to ensure the reductions are enforced.
“We have cut the prices of many spare parts at various magazine shops,” Owusu‑Ansah said. “Our monitoring team is now visiting outlets to enforce the reductions, and anyone caught failing to comply will face consequences.”
He therefore urged motorists to stop blaming spare-parts dealers for failing to reduce transport fares to line with drops in fuel prices.
Mr. Owusu-Ansah also criticized drivers who unilaterally charge unauthorized fares, especially in the evening rush hour, noting that such practices only add to the public frustration.
But his claim of price reduction was rejected by Twum Barima, public relations officer for the True Drivers Association.
“The alleged reductions apply only to luxury cars, not to commercial vehicles, so the spare parts dealers should stop lying to the public,” he said.
He added that the reduction, if any, benefits a small segment of the market, while the majority of drivers who operate minibuses, taxis, and other commercial vehicles continue to face high costs.
Barima acknowledged that some drivers do charge unapproved fares, but he placed responsibility on the Ghana Police for not enforcing regulations.
“We will take the heat for the unfair transport fares,” he said. “However, the police are not doing their part to keep the sector in check. The law requires commercial drivers to register with recognized unions, but that is not being enforced.”
He called on law‑enforcement agencies to step up monitoring and to crack down on illegal fare collection, especially during evening hours when passengers are most vulnerable.
Source: Francis Mensah
