General News of Wednesday, 7 February 2018
Source: www.ghanaweb.live
2018-02-07Enough of Free SHS; reduce fuel prices or forget 2020 - Drivers warn Akufo-Addo
play videoThe demonstrators are calling for a reduction in taxes on petroleum products
Commercial drivers have sounded a word of caution to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the NPP government to either ensure that fuel prices are reduced or they forget retaining power in the 2020 General Elections.
The drivers who participated in a demonstration organised by the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) and the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union
Read full article(ICU) sharing their frustrations with GhanaWeb noted that they now buy fuel with the little profit they make from work and as such are unable to properly take care of their homes.
According to the drivers it is about time the Akufo-Addo led government stops touting its horns for implementing the ‘Free Senior High School’ policy and concentrate on fixing the ailing economy of the country.
“Free education does not buy us fuel or food, so the government must fulfil its promise and take the GH¢8 tax off fuel prices instead of adding on to it because they told us before coming into power that it was a useless tax,” one of the drivers said.
The drivers suggested that if the fuel prices won’t be reduced then they should be allowed to increase transport fares, so all Ghanaians will feel the pains of the fuel increment.
They threatened to vote out the NPP government in the next elections if their grievances are not addressed.
The demonstration was aimed at pressuring the government to reduce taxes on petroleum products.
The demonstrators wielded placards with inscriptions such as; “2016;14.80p, 2018;22.00p WHY”, “Drivers y’anu yeho”, “Mr President listen to drivers”, “Stop the galamseying in our pocket”, “88% taxes is too much” among others.
