Ghana has been named among the countries with the highest fuel prices in Africa.
Ghana has since September secured a top spot on the list of African countries with really expensive fuel, following the consistent jump in the prices of fuel in the country.
With an African average of GH¢ 5.978 ($0.98) per litre, fuel in Ghana is currently hovering around GH¢ 7 ($1.142) per litre.
Although Ghana’s price is still far lower than the global average of GH¢ 9.28 ($1.5), it comes 11th on the table of 44 African countries with the most expensive fuel.
This is according to data analysed from Global Petrol Prices, an open source platform that gathers data on the cost of different fuels across the world.
The data gathered from official government sources, regulatory agencies and petroleum companies show that on the continent of Africa, fuel is least expensive in Algeria, selling at GH¢ 1.22 ($0.20) per litre, while Zimbabwe holds the unenviable title as the country with the highest fuel price selling at GH¢9.76 ($1.6) per litre.
TOP 10 African Countries with most expensive fuel
| Country | Fuel price (US$) | |
| 11. | Ghana | 1.142 |
| 10. | Senegal | 1.146 |
| 9. | Burundi | 1.177 |
| 8. | Cape Verde | 1.183 |
| 7. | Uganda | 1.198 |
| 6. | South Africa | 1.257 |
| 5. | Malawi | 1.374 |
| 4. | Seychelles | 1.487 |
| 3. | Central African Republic | 1.544 |
| 2. | Mayotte | 1.569 |
| 1. | Zimbabwe | 1.637 |
Source: GlobalPetrolPrices
10 least expensive African countries for fuel
| Country | Fuel price (US$) | |
| 1. | Algeria | 0.209 |
| 2. | Angola | 0.226 |
| 3. | Ethiopia | 0.397 |
| 4. | Egypt | 0.429 |
| 5. | Nigeria | 0.619 |
| 6. | Tunisia | 0.637 |
| 7. | Sudan | 0.656 |
| 8. | Madagascar | 0.852 |
| 9. | Mauritius | 0.864 |
| 10. | Zambia | 0.891 |
West Africa
In the West African sub-region, Ghana is only third behind Cape Verde and Senegal having the highest fuel price.
Understandably, Nigeria, an oil-producing country has the lowest price in the sub-region followed by Sierra Leone and Benin per the weekly data as of 15th November, 2021.
| Country | Fuel price (US$) | |
| 1. | Sierra Leone | 0.909 |
| 2. | Benin | 0.919 |
| 3. | Burkina Faso | 0.954 |
| 4. | Cape Verde | 1.183 |
| 5. | Ivory Coast | 1.076 |
| 6. | Ghana | 1.142 |
| 7. | Liberia | 1.067 |
| 8. | Guinea | 1.055 |
| 9. | Mali | 1.052 |
| 10. | Nigeria | 0.619 |
| 11. | Senegal | 1.146 |
| 12. | Togo | 0.91 |
The prices of goods and services are almost immediately affected by the slightest change in the price of fuel.
The Ghana Private Roads of Transport Union (GPRTU), the country’s largest union of commercial drivers is considering an increase in transport fares pending the conclusion of negotiations with the government.
The last formal hike in transport fares was by a rate of 13% in June 2021.
The price build-up of petroleum products in Ghana is made up of almost 40% taxes and levies, a situation some analysts have bemoaned.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) says there are about 11 taxes, levies and margins on every litre of fuel purchased and this totals about GH¢2.43.
This includes the most recent taxes; an additional 10 pesewas as Sanitation and Pollution Levy (SPL) and 20 pesewas as Energy Sector Recovery Levy per litre of fuel.
If the GPRTU’s negotiations are completed, transport fares are expected to increase, just as energy sector analysts expect the price of fuel at the various pumps to go up ahead of Christmas.
