Transports unions have expressed disappointment at the government’s decision to reduce fuel prices by a paltry ¢0.15.
The reduction, they say, is woefully inadequate and stressed they would have been better off if the government had not even absorbed anything.
Spokesperson of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), shortly after the Finance Minister announced the reduction disclosed the drivers would engage further on how to increase transport fares.
In an interview with Joy News, he said, “If this is all they can do for us, I will say we are ungrateful. The ¢0.15 is woefully inadequate, so we’d have to meet and decide on which way we are going to move.”
“On Thursday, March 24, the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, announced that effective April 1, petroleum price build-up margins will be reduced by ¢0.15 per litre.”
BOST margin will be reduced by ¢0.2, Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund by ¢0.9, Fuel Marking Margin by ¢0.1 and Primary Distribution Margin by ¢0.3, all per litre.
The reduction, he said, aims to mitigate the impact of the rising price of petroleum products at the pump, for the next three months.
he said, “In 2022, we exported $3,947.70 million, of which Ghana’s portion was $513 million. However, we imported $2,719.00 of crude oil and finished products. The purported windfall gain in foreign exchange is a mirage.
“From January to date, the average ex-pump price of diesel and petrol has increased by 57% and 45% respectively,” he explained.
Transport operators including the GPRTU, the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana and other unions have discounted the reduction and insist it is not welcome.
They questioned the rationality of absorbing just 15 pesewas for a product sold at GH¢10.90 and stressed this intervention is not needed.
Source: Mypublisher24.com