Fuel consumers should brace for higher pump prices from Wednesday, September 16, as the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) projects significant increases in the prices of petrol, diesel and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).
According to COPEC’s latest projection, petrol could rise by 4.24 per cent, while diesel is expected to record a sharper 10.23 per cent increase during the second pricing window of September 2026.
LPG is also projected to increase significantly, with the commodity expected to sell at approximately GH¢15.32 per kilogramme.
In its projection dated September 13, 2026, COPEC attributed the expected increases largely to rising international crude oil and refined petroleum product prices.
Crude Oil Prices Surge
COPEC said international crude oil prices increased from US$89.30 to US$103.07 per barrel during the period under review.
The increase occurred despite a marginal appreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar.
The cedi moved from an average interbank rate of GH¢11.5166 to US$1 at the beginning of the current pricing window to GH¢11.4830 to US$1 at the close.
COPEC said this represented a marginal 0.29 per cent appreciation of the cedi against the dollar.
Petrol Could Rise to GH¢16.26
COPEC’s analysis showed that the international Free on Board (FOB) price of petrol increased from US$1,136.50 to US$1,251.07 per metric tonne, representing a 10.08 per cent increase.
After taking the marginal appreciation of the cedi into account, COPEC projects that the retail price of petrol could rise to GH¢16.26 per litre.
That would represent a 4.24 per cent increase from the current mean price of GH¢15.60 per litre.
Based on its projection and an estimated ±5 per cent price range, COPEC expects petrol to sell between GH¢15.44 and GH¢17.08 per litre during the next pricing window.
Diesel Faces Steeper Increase
Diesel is expected to record a more significant increase.
COPEC said the international FOB price of diesel rose from US$1,250.50 to US$1,404.73 per metric tonne, representing a 12.33 per cent increase.
After factoring in the 0.29 per cent appreciation of the cedi, COPEC projects a retail pump price of GH¢19.07 per litre for diesel.
The projected price would represent a 10.23 per cent increase from the current mean price of GH¢17.30 per litre.
The projected increases, if reflected at the pumps, are expected to put additional pressure on motorists and households from the start of the new pricing window on September 16.
