A leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Lambussie Constituency, Mr. Abubakari Abdul-Moomin, has called on government to consider removing the GH¢1.00 tax on every litre of fuel as a practical step to address mounting pressure from private transport operators demanding a 30 percent increase in fares.
Speaking in an interview with James Baba Anabiga, host of the Day Break Upper West morning show on Lambussie FM, Mr. Abdul-Moomin said government intervention is necessary to ease the burden on transport operators and commuters alike.
“If government wants the private transport operators to step down their demands to increase transport fares by 30%, then it should remove the GH¢1.00 tax on every litre of fuel purchased,” he stated.
While acknowledging the concerns of transport operators, Mr. Abdul-Moomin noted that the proposed increment may be excessive and requires reconsideration.
“I agree that the 30% demand is on a higher side and should be relooked at by transport operators,” he added.
Mr. Abdul-Moomin also used the platform to caution against what he described as the politicisation of national economic challenges. He urged members of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to adopt a more balanced approach in addressing current economic difficulties.
“I want to use this opportunity to call on my brothers in the NDC to refrain from the act of politicising everything,” he said.
Drawing comparisons with past global events, he recalled how the NDC responded to economic concerns during the Russia-Ukraine war when the NPP was in power.
“When the Russia-Ukraine war broke out and the NPP was still in power and complained about its effects on our economy, the NDC told us that the fight was not in Ghana,” he noted.
He argued that the current administration should similarly take responsibility for domestic economic challenges rather than attributing them to external factors.
“Today, they are in power and the USA-Iran war is causing the rise in petroleum products. They should face it without blaming it on the USA-Iran war,” he stressed.
The comments come at a time when fuel prices continue to rise, sparking concerns among transport operators and the general public. Stakeholders in the transport sector have warned that sustained increases in fuel costs could significantly impact fares and the cost of living.
