Scrap non-essential taxes on fuel — TUC
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) has asked the government to honour its campaign promise to reduce fuel prices by scrapping some of the taxes on petroleum products.
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“The government must consider the deregulation policy. The practice where fuel prices are reviewed upward every two weeks has insidious effects not only on prices but also the psyche of the people,’’ a statement released by the TUC yesterday stated.
The statement, signed by its acting Secretary General, Mr Joshua Ansah, was in reaction to the increases in fuel prices on September 17,
Failed campaign promise
Last week, a litre of petrol and diesel hit the Gh¢5 mark, a situation which many experts had attributed to the depreciation of the cedi.
According to the TUC, the government had reneged on its manifesto promise to reduce fuel prices.
“After more than 18 months in government, fuel prices have gone up by an average of more than 25 per cent. This was not what Ghanaians were promised,’’ it said.
The labour union said despite the price hikes, the minimum wage had only gone up by 20 per cent, a situation which it said had put a strain on the finances of the average worker.
“The frequent upward adjustments, as experienced in the last few months, have considerably eroded incomes and worsened the plight of Ghanaian workers and their families,’’ the TUC said.
Deal with the issue
According to the TUC, an apparent statement by the Minister of Energy, Mr John Peter-Amewu, that Ghanaians would have paid more for fuel but for the government’s intervention and that fuel prices would have been much higher if the previous government was in power was unnecessary.