Reduce fuel prices – Group to government

The Coalition for Social Justice has said government is being insensitive to the plight of Ghanaians by increasing fuel prices.

According to the group, Ghanaians are already embroiled in severe economic hardship, hence, the government should have been concerned and not increase the fuel prices.

They have asked the government to immediately reduce fuel prices.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta announced an increase in fuel taxes when he presented the 2019 mid-year budget review to parliament.

Accordingly, some leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) across the country have increased pump prices effective Sunday, 1 September 2019 from GHS 5.19/litre to GHC5.39/litre, representing a 3.7% jump.

But a statement issued by the group on Monday, September 2, 2019, said: “We know that these increments in fuel process are a result of the bad and insensitive policies of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and nothing more."

“They are a direct product of steep hikes in the energy sector levies (ESLA) by more than 23% which were announced during the 2019 mid-year budget review presentation by Finance Minister."

“We find the decision by President Akufo-Addo government to increase prices of petroleum products at a time when Ghanaians are reeling under excruciating hardship as most dishonest and unfair.”

The statement added: “These increments are unjustifiable given the fact the Akufo-Addo government has nothing significantly to show for all the revenue (estimated at about GHSS210b billion in tax and non tax revenue including loans) which has accrued to them in the last two and half years."