The Minority National Democratic Congress, (NDC) in Parliament says government’s justification of the petroleum hikes does not go down well and to this end have vowed to campaign vigorously against the Special Petroleum Tax until it is scrapped.
The Special Petroleum Tax initially 17.5 was placed on petroleum products by the previous governments in 2015, but was reviewed downwards by 2.5% in the 2017 budget.
Speaking on Radio Ghana’s Current Affairs Programme, “Behind the News”, the Ranking Member on Mines and Energy Committee in Parliament, Adam Mutawakilu said scrapping the tax will drastically reduce fuel price, hence, lessening the burden on consumers.
Fuel prices have hit the 5 cedi mark with diesel going for GHc5.18 pesewas per litre, and petrol Ghc5.14 per litre.
However, Adam Mutawakilu, believes scrapping of that tax alone can reduce the price of fuel at the pumps by at least 2 cedis per gallon, hence the outreach.
He further argued that, data available from 2015 indicates that the special petroleum tax has outlived its usefulness and must therefore be abolished to bring relief to Ghanaians.
According to the Adam Mutawakilu, the tax has outlived its usefulness at a time when world market prices allow government to make a windfall of 10 million dollars per day from crude exports.
The Damongo Member of Parliament said government must not be insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians.
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