The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to immediately ensure that fuel prices at the pumps are reduced.
According to the party, the declining prices of crude oil on the international market, amongst other factors, should have led to a drastic reduction of fuel but the government has refused to do so.
According to the opposition, the call for reduction is to help commercial drivers as they have been compelled to reduce the number of passengers that board their vehicles in order to adhere to social distancing.
Speaking to the media in Accra today, July 13, 2020, National Communication Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, described the increase in fuel prices as unacceptable and demanded that prices be reduced immediately.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot end by urging government to reduce fuel prices, instead of the recent consistent increments at a time crude prices have plummeted on the world market. The need to reduce fuel prices comes at a time government has directed all commercial drivers to reduce the number of passengers they take in line with social distancing protocols. This has drastically reduced the incomes of transport owners who are still being asked to pay more for fuel. This is unacceptable, and prices must go down immediately.”
Attendant increase in transport fares
Commercial transport operators over the weekend increased transport fares by 15%.
This was after the transport operators made a proposal for the government to allow them to revert to carrying their usual full seating capacity or for the fares to be adjusted upwards by 30%.
After considering both proposals, government subsequently approved a 15% increase.
