Accra: Commercial rickshaw riders operating within the Ho Municipality have appealed to the Ho Municipal Assembly to review and reduce the cost of Assembly stickers imposed on their operations, describing the current charges as unsustainable.
According to Ghana News Agency, the riders addressed a petition to Mr. Stephen Adom, the Municipal Chief Executive for Ho, on May 15, 2026, requesting a reduction in the sticker fee from GHS100 to GHS20. This proposed rate aligns with the fees applied to taxis and urban buses. The petition was also sent to Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim, Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs; Mr. James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister; Mr. Edem Kofi Kpotosu, Member of Parliament for Ho Central; Mr. Mawunyo Agbe, Presiding Member of the Ho Municipal Assembly; the Trades Union Congress; NUTOG National; and media outlets.
The petition, signed by Mr. Peter Yao Agbo, Deputy Secretary, and Mr. Enyonam Goh, Zonal Chairman of the riders' association, outlined the growing challenges faced by the commercial tricycle transport business amid rising operational costs and low profit margins. It emphasized that commercial rickshaws remain a vital service for thousands of residents, particularly in areas lacking sufficient taxis and buses.
'We provide affordable last-mile transport services to residents daily, especially around markets, schools, and health facilities where transport services are often inadequate,' the petition stated. The association highlighted the significant increases in fuel prices, spare parts, insurance costs, and vehicle maintenance expenses over the past two years, which have eroded profitability for operators.
The petition further noted that after accounting for fuel, maintenance, and payments to vehicle owners, the average daily income for many riders is minimal. In addition to Assembly sticker fees, operators are already burdened with other charges, including embossment fees, association dues, and taxes necessary for legal operation within the municipality.
The petitioners urged the Assembly to engage with the leaders of the commercial rickshaw riders' associations in a stakeholder meeting to establish a fair and enforceable fee structure that balances municipal revenue needs with the economic realities of the operators. They affirmed their commitment to obeying the law and supporting municipal development, while stressing that the current sticker costs are detrimental to their livelihoods.
They argued that reducing sticker fees would encourage more riders to register officially and comply with Assembly regulations, thereby improving long-term revenue mobilisation. 'A fair tax structure will support youth employment, improve compliance, and reduce pressure on the Assembly to create jobs directly,' the petition concluded.