The recent increment in fuel prices has created many complaints and agitations in the country.
The government a day after the increment is being mounted with pressure to intervene to ease the economic burden on businesses and the people.
The National Petroleum Authority’s decision to increase diesel and petrol beyond Ghc5 has attracted strong reactions from civil society groups and transport organizations.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) says the frequent review of petroleum products has devastating effects on the transport business.
It has therefore appealed to government to take a second look of the deregulation policy.
The National Vice Chair of GPRTU, Robert Sabah in an interview with Ibrahim Kwarteng on “Radio Ghana’s Current Affairs Programme, “BEHIND THE NEWS” expressed that, this current increment came as a surprise because of the short duration between the previous increment on the 19th of August, 2018 and current increment on September 17, 2018.
He stated that, whenever there is an increment of fuel, it affects all sectors of the economy and also the daily money of every school child which affects their transport fares and money for food.
He explained that “we don’t deal with economic issues; we have set the agenda for those who are well vested in the economy to take it up and come up with an idea”.
Also the chairman of the Committed Drivers Association, Charles Danso affirmed some complains from the Association.
He said that they are very disappointed in the Oil Marketing Companies, (OMCs’) because before fuel is increase there is a negotiation for a year or two.
According to him, government and OMCS need to be pressured to reduce the prices amicably.
Mr. Danso complained that, the increase in fuel prices has been like a trap to the commercial drivers to give the Ayalolo buses and private taxi’s the opportunity to take over from them.
Mr. Danso stated that, “when it comes like that, these politicians, they always wear one school uniform”. Finally he answered that, if government does not review the prices, the last alternative for them is to increase transport fares.
Meanwhile, government’s Technical Advisor on Macro Economic and Energy and Petroleum Economics, Dr. Ishmael Arckah has explained four main factors that account for the domestic petroleum in consuming which are the import parity price (the cost of oil + the cost of importing), the exchange rate, the margin of DDCS and Oil Marketing Companies and government taxes and levy.
Nonetheless, according to him, two main factors of the above have been speedily increasing, the international oil price and the exchange rate which is resulting in issues with our fuel prices.
In response to these pressures on the government, the National Petroleum Authority and the Energy Ministry are expected to hold a news meeting today to give further details on the recent fuel increase and other related matter.
By: Nhyira Kwabi
