Halt Increment of Petroleum Prices Now - Drivers mount pressure on govt

Members of the Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) have announced the preparation to hit the principal streets to stage a massive naked demonstration against the government of President Nana Addo Dankwa Addo-Addo if it fails to half the recent increment of the petroleum prices in the country.

They called on the general public to join them to embark on the protest against the government, saying they dismayed by the recent increment in the prices of fuel in the country.

The increment, according to the Chairman of  Concerned Drivers Union Paa Willie in a press statement comes as the straw that broke the camel’s back. 

"We wish to state unequivocally that we are more disappointed in the Nana Akufo Addo government.

Over the period, we have witnessed subtle increment of fuel prices and complained bitterly due to the untoward hardship it brought on us but it seems our plight have been falling on deaf ears, the drivers Union declared.

They noted that it is more disheartening that, on this year May Day, petrol commodities have seen another increment in their prices only that this time around government has made a formal announcement.

"But we’d like to state that, the increment is not justifiable in any manner considering the fact that, prices of fuel are relatively cheaper in all the countries surrounding Ghana.

"We would like to state emphatically that, as drivers, we shall increase transport fares by 40 per cent regardless of the percentage increase of fuel prices," they stressed.

They maintained that the drivers are been forced to take this decision because, the transport business continues to be less lucrative due to such increments and even including that of Drivers licenses, vehicle insurance and roadworthy certificates.

Sadly, they pointed out the President has failed to stick to his own words when he was then an opposition candidate and even when he was contesting in just the recent elections. Even though he promised to make life easy, we are rather facing more perilous times.

Against this background,  the drivers, therefore, called on the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), businessmen and women, large and small scale traders, students and both private and government workers to echo a joint call on the government to halt the further increment of petroleum prices.

Failure to do this, according to them, "then we must all begin preparing to accept the 40 per cent increment of transport fares proposed by us."

As a Drivers’ Union, they noted that they have considered several factors including the plight of our cherished passengers but if we don’t take this step after the increment, we stand the risk of been kicked out of business.

They stressed that It is cogent for all of "us to call on the government to immediately halt the increment."

  Freeman Koryekpor Awlesu Greater Accra Regional Correspondent