By: Antionette Abbah
The Coalition of Commercial Transport Operators in Ghana have called on the government to as a matter of urgency scrap all taxes and levies on petroleum prices.
The group said if by Thursday, November 11, 2021, by 3pm they don’t hear from the government, they would be left with no other option than to embark on a strike.
Speaking at a media briefing in Accra, General Secretary of the GPRTU, Godfred Abulbiri, said taxes such as the Energy Sector levy, Price Stabilization levy, Energy Debt Recovery levy and the sanitation levy which he described as nuisance taxes are negatively affecting the operations of members hence the need to scrap them immediately.
”The surge in fuel prices does not promote the welfare of transport owners”, he noted.
Mr. Abulbiri said between January and November petroleum prices have seen an increment of 39.39%, but the government only increased transport fares by 13%.
He said unfortunately in the past the Coalition made similar calls to the government, but is yet to receive any response.
PRO of the Concerned Drivers Association, David Agboado, said the Coalition comprising 59% transport organizations including Online Digital Transport Workers and Cargo Transport Owners are resolute in their demands and will leave no stone unturned until the government heeds to their call and scraps the taxes before the 2022 budget presentation.
Executive Secretary at the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers, Duncan Amoah said the government is happy that the transport owners have decided to call on it to reduce the taxes rather than burdening the consumer with periodic increase in transport fares, according to Mr. Duncan Amoah.
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