Bawku (U/E) Feb 23, GNA - Mixed reactions were expressed by residents in the Bawku Municipality following government's announcement on the upward adjustment in fuel prices on Friday.
Whilst majority was in favour of it, only few were against it, citing reasons that salaries should have been increased before the increment of fuel prices.
The majority, comprising motorbike and private vehicle owners, contended that once the prices were almost at par with the neighbouring countries, Burkina Faso and Togo, it would discourage smuggling. They claimed that the previous lower prices of fuel also encouraged filling station attendants to connive with middlemen to create shortage in the township.
The few, however, were of the view that government deregulation process would worsen the plight of the rural poor who made up majority of the people in the area.
On the smuggling menace, they called for concerted effort by the security agencies to curb the menace, alleging that most of the personnel were aware of this problem.
On the whole, both opinions called on government to stabilize the transport fares in the area.
They also called for an increase of not less than 40 per cent in their salary in order to cushion them.
They claimed that, anything less than this would mean that their welfare was not of importance to the government. Feb.23 05
