As the festive season approaches, commercial vehicle drivers in the country have appealed to President Nana Akufo-Addo to address rising fuel prices in the country immediately.
Aggrieved members of the Regional Concern Drivers Association of Ghana, one of the numerous driver unions in the country, have served notice that they will be left with no option than to storm the Flagstaff House and spend the yuletide with the President and his family if the rising trend does not reverse.
“We are calling on the government to help decrease the fuel prices or we will celebrate Christmas at the Jubilee House with the President and our families,” the group threatened in a statement which was released on Monday, 9 December 2019.
Meanwhile, the group reveals that, they have made several attempts to convince the necessary authorities to deal with the fuel price hike but to no avail hence left with no choice but to embark on the action to beseech the Flagstaff House to compel the government to address their concerns.
“Things are already tough in the country so the government should be a little bit sensitive and reduce fuel prices for us this Christmas,” the group pleaded.
Meanwhile, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers-Ghana (COPEC-Ghana) is predicting fuel price increments ahead of the Christmas festivities in the second pricing window of the month which begins 16 December 2019, if the Ghana Cedi continues to slump against the US Dollar.
COPEC-Ghana raised concerns about a 1% increment in average pump prices for petrol and diesel which the institution said it noticed on Friday, 7 December 2019 across the major Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in the country.
COPEC-Ghana said hitherto to the increments the price was GHS 5.360/ litre for both petrol and diesel. However, there has been an increase of 5 pesewas shooting the prices to GHS 5.410/ litre or GHS 24.345/ gallon for both petrol and diesel.
Below is the full statement from the Regional Concern Drivers Association of Ghana:
REGIONAL CONCERN DRIVERS ASSOCIATION OF GHANA
WE WILL CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS AT THE JUBILEE HOUSE WITH OUR FAMILIES.
We wish to inform our President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to as a matter of urgency work tirelessly to halt the hike in fuel prices else, we will celebrate Christmas with him at the Jubilee House.
The rate at which fuel prices are going up under this government is very worrying.
Our National Executives have tried to meet consistently with government agencies and institutions about the rate at which fuel prices are going up but it looks like they have deliberately refused to heed to our call to reduce fuel prices.
We, the Regional Concern Drivers Association are pleading with the government to begin to reduce fuel prices now or else we will be forced to take any action against the government.
Things are already tough in the country so the government should be a little bit sensitive and reduce fuel prices for us this Christmas.
The meagre income we gain is coupled with increased taxes on water, electricity, and communication which is detrimental to the welfare of we the drivers and our families.
We cannot link the higher taxes that confront us with any appreciable improvements in basic economic and social circumstances of the country.
We are calling on the government to help decrease the fuel prices or we will celebrate Christmas at the Jubilee House with the President and our families.
Thank You, Merry Christmas and a Prosperous new year.
Long live Ghana, long live drivers
Cc All media houses
Greater Accra Regional Chairman Nii Ashyie
Ashanti Regional Chairman Nana Kwakye
Central Regional Chairman Kwasi Arhin
Eastern Regional Chairman Nana Wiredu
