Abolish petroleum taxes, or we’ll increase transportation fares – Transport unions to gov’t
The Coalition of Transport Unions and Associations has asked the government to cut down on petroleum taxes, or else they will increase transportation fares by 20 per cent.
According to the coalition, the government must abolish the sanitation and pollution levy, the energy sector levy and the special petroleum tax to mitigate the upward surge in fuel prices.
The group added that these levies have put unnecessary pressure on drivers and consumers in the country.
The National Public Relations Officer for the Concerned Drivers Association, David Agboado, said the group is giving the government a two-week ultimatum.
“We started this some time ago, in June 2021, when we wrote to the government, and they sent ministers to us. We deliberated, and we know that the price stabilization and recovery levy is no more working.
“The energy sector levy is no more working, the sanitation and pollution levy is no more working, and we have issued a statement to that effect, but we are not seeing anything, and we are giving the government two weeks to do something else we will increase transportation fares by 20 per cent,” he threatened.
The coalition insists that they do not intend to disrupt the economy, but their actions are their efforts to reduce the hardships on themselves and Ghanaians.
A market leader like TotalEnergies has increased the price of petrol to ¢13.50 from ¢12.45.
Diesel is also going for ¢13.90 from the previous price of ¢12.45, which translates into an 11% increase from the first pricing window of August 2023.