GH₵1 per litre isn't small money – GPRTU slams gov't over new fuel levy

The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) is unhappy with the government. They oppose a new GHS1 levy on petroleum products. The union claims authorities ignored important stakeholders in this decision.

Alhaji Abass Imoro, the Union’s Industrial Relations Officer, spoke on Citi TV. He criticized the levy, especially after a recent 15 percent fare reduction. This reduction was meant to reflect the stronger cedi and lower fuel prices.

Imoro stated, “We are not clear with their explanation. One cedi per litre is significant.” He added that they had just lowered fares, hoping for relief from price changes. Instead, they were surprised by another tax announcement.

Parliament approved the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill on June 3. This bill imposes a GH₵1 increase in the petroleum levy. Government officials say it will raise about GH₵5.7 billion annually to tackle energy sector debt.

Despite these reasons, GPRTU argues there was no transparency or proper consultation. They believe commercial drivers should have been included in discussions before implementing this levy.

Imoro emphasized that professional drivers are most affected by this change. He said, “One cedi per litre means a lot.” He noted that reduced fuel prices provide some relief for drivers.

The GPRTU is currently assessing how the new levy will impact their operations. They plan to decide their next steps based on these findings.