The  National Chairman of the General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union (GTPCWU)  under the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Mr Bernard Owusu, has criticised government policy on public transport, warning that state-owned transport operators are being pushed into structural financial losses.

In a statement, Mr Owusu noted that government transport companies such as Metro Mass Transit (MMT), the State Transport Corporation (STC) and Aayalolo are required to keep fares below prevailing market rates as part of their public service mandate, yet are forced to purchase fuel at the same commercial prices as private transport operators.

According to him, the absence of fuel subsidies or compensatory support to bridge this gap makes it impossible for the state operators to operate sustainably.

“Without subsidies to cover the difference, these companies are operating at a structural loss,” he said.

Mr Owusu described the situation as a policy failure, arguing that it is further worsened by operator and management inefficiencies within the state transport companies.

He stressed, however, that public discourse often focuses on rhetoric rather than addressing the fundamental policy and structural challenges confronting the sector.

He called for a more honest national conversation on public transport financing, urging policymakers to align fare control policies with appropriate support mechanisms to ensure the viability of state-owned transport services.

Mr Owusu warned that failure to address these policy gaps could undermine the sustainability of public transport and negatively affect workers, commuters and the broader economy.