Reverse fuel price increases - CJA

The government should reverse fuel price increases which "betray the principles which underlined the election campaign of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 2004 and 2008", according to the Committee for Joint Action (CJA).

On Sunday 17 February fuel prices increases of 15 to 20 per cent were introduced which had an instant effect on transport fares and have attracted criticism from politicians an pressure groups.

The CJA, in a statement released today, said: "It is also an indication of the growing insensitivity of the Ghanaian political elite to the worsening plight of the working people and the underprivileged.

"The CJA is shocked by the fact that the NDC administration is today repeating the same justification put forward by the Kufour government for fuel price increases. These justifications have ranged from the need to remove imaginary subsidies to the imperative of combating fuel smuggling across Ghana’s borders."

The group also questioned the subsidies in light of the high taxes on petrol proucts. The group also suggested that "ex-refinery prices used in calculating ex-pump prices are assumed and could be far away from real cost".