This Saturday on Newsfile, life at home and justice abroad collide. Long queues at bus stations and complaints of multiple fare charges are testing everyday budgets, even as drivers and unions clash over transport discipline.

In politics, the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer race is shifting from polls to internal tension ahead of the January 31 primaries. And in the U.S., former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta remains in federal custody, a case that now hinges on extradition evidence and legal deadlines.

Across major cities, commuters continue to face long queues at bus stations and anxiety over rising transport costs, even at times when international crude prices have fallen. Local fuel prices have dropped significantly, selling below GH₵10 a liter, operators are still passing costs to passengers and sparking repeated fare increases.

Transport unions have warned against illegal fare hikes, even as operators argue rising costs justify them. Meanwhile, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has begun deploying guards and enforcement teams on major routes to curb the practice of charging multiple fares or “short shots”, a growing passenger complaint, though critics say there is no legal basis for union arrests of drivers and that this enforcement could worsen transport shortages.

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) is also under pressure to tackle fuel market inconsistencies and illicit practices, amid broader calls for pricing reforms and better enforcement.

The question is, why aren’t fuel price drops translating into cheaper transport costs? Who is accountable for unchecked fare practices? And what policy levers can ease the burden on commuters and small businesses in 2026?

With the NPP presidential primary just days away on January 31, recent polls and party dynamics have stirred deep talk within the party. Multiple surveys show former Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia leading the race, with figures placing him comfortably ahead of rivals in delegate support and delegate-based polling models.

Some interesting polls also indicate that Kennedy Agyapong holds strong support among floating voters and in social media samples, a signal of unpredictable cross-party sentiments. But the story on the ground is more than numbers.

Campaign teams like that of Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum have pushed back against public opinion polls, arguing that delegates themselves, not polls or prophecies, will decide the outcome, framing the contest as one of credibility, stability and unity.

With over 200,000 registered delegates set to vote in over 300 polling centres nationwide, tensions are rising over whether the race will hold together or result in post-primary fractures especially between the establishment and anti-establishment wings of the party.

Are the polls reflecting reality, or feeding a self-fulfilling narrative of division? Can the NPP avoid implosion and emerge united? And who has the momentum with delegates as election day approaches?

Across the Atlantic, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta remains in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following his January 6 arrest in Washington, D.C., a situation now playing out in U.S. immigration courts.

At a closed-door hearing on January 20, an American federal judge demanded proof of Ghana’s extradition request before advancing bail decisions, effectively keeping Ofori-Atta in detention while awaiting documentary evidence from Accra that meets U.S. legal standards.

The court has now set a February 19 deadline for Ghanaian authorities to supply legal proof of the extradition claim, after which the judge may reconsider bail or temporary release.

Meanwhile, both Ghana’s Attorney-General and supporters of stronger accountability are watching closely, as his immigration status and extradition prospects intertwine with ongoing corruption charges back home matters that could determine whether he returns to Ghana to face justice or remains abroad under prolonged legal scrutiny.

On Newsfile, we’ll explore: Why the U.S. judge wants documentary proof before acting, what this means for Ghana’s extradition strategy, and whether Mr Ofori-Atta is likely to be “homebound or jailbound”, or remain in limbo as legal calendars unfold across hemispheres.

Join Samson Lardy Anyenini and his panel at 9 a.m. on JoyNews, JoyFM, and MyJoyOnline. Because the issues are complex and the questions demand answers.

Newsfile airs live on the JoyNews channel on digital satellite channels 421 on DSTV and 144 on GoTV, and streams on JoyNews’ Facebook or YouTube channels on Saturdays from 9 am to noon.

Viewers can also follow the discussion by tuning in to Joy 99.7 FM or Luv 99.5 FM on the radio or stream the discussion live on either Google or Apple Podcasts.

Newsfile is your most authoritative news analysis programme.