Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the Member of Parliament for Weija-Gbawe constituency in the Greater Accra Region, has shockingly blamed his absence on pre-sitting parliamentary meetings on transport fare.
According to Jerry Ahmed Shaib, since the John Mahama-led government came into office, this has been very difficult for him to get money, and he finds it difficult to afford transport fare.
Bernard Ahiafor, the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, on July 30, 2028, questioned the Member of Parliament why he keeps missing parliament pre-sitting meetings.
Bernard Ahiafor stated, “Jerry, these days you have not been attending pre-sittings”.
The Weija Gbawe MP, in his response, stated, “Speaker, sometimes it’s a matter of lorry fare. Since this government came in, it’s been very difficult for me to even get money to have lorry fare. So that will be the situation”.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament also stated, “This one Hon Jerry Ahmed, you have a very legitimate point, legitimate point in the sense that deductions have started for the car loan, and yet the Honourable Member is still complaining about transport”.
Bernard Ahiafor further questioned the deputy Majority leader if he had something to say in response to the car loan for the members of parliament.
The Deputy Majority Leader stated, “ You are absolutely right, the deduction has already started and the money, I believe, is also in”.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and other commercial transport operators announced a drop in transport by 15 per cent on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
This comes following successful negotiations between transport operators and the Ministry of Transport.
The 15 per cent adjustment reflects the sustained appreciation of the cedi against the US dollar, contributing to a significant drop in fuel prices.
Speaking on CITI NEWS, Abass Imoro, the Industrial Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) stated, “We have finally agreed to reduce lorry fares by 15%, but it will take effect from Saturday.
Although currently, spare parts sellers have promised to reduce some of their prices for now, which hasn’t taken effect, and none of the lubricants which went up have been reduced currently, we decided to peg the reduction at 15%”, he added.
Nevertheless, the truth on the ground tells a different narrative, one that is marked by non-compliance, exploitation, and growing dissatisfaction among road commuters, specifically traders, public servants and students.
Also, Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim Moro has advised passengers not to assault drivers or their mates if they refuse to implement the 15% fare reduction on Saturday, 24th May 2025.
According to Alhaji Abbas Ibrahim Moro, passengers should rather report drivers and mates who fail to comply with the 15 per cent reduction of transport fare to the police instead.
The GPRTU PRO is quoted to have said, “ Don’t beat drivers or mates if they refuse to reduce fares by 15 per cent on Saturday; report them to the Police instead”.
In addition, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) on July 30 issued a warning to commercial drivers in the metropolis against charging unapproved transport fares.
Watch the video below:
“Speaker, sometimes it’s a matter of lorryfare. Since this government came in, it’s been very difficult for me to even get money to have lorryfare”
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) July 31, 2025
—Weija Gbawe MP, Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaibu on his absence from pre-sitting parliamentary meetings. pic.twitter.com/6OQAATaoMm