The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has called on the government to review downwards duties on some imported commodities, especially those on building materials and other essential commodities to relieve Ghanaians of the very high residential rental prices being demanded by property owners.

This forms part of measures the council has proposed to government to consider in its 2022 budget statement to ease the economic hardships on Ghanaians.

In a statement dated November 16, 2021, singed by the General secretary of the GPCC, Rev. Emmanuel T. Barrigah, the GPCC urged the government to take practical and immediate steps to ease the economic hardships currently facing many Ghanaians, especially the teaming unemployed youth.

“The Council is particularly worried about the rippling effects of the recent rampant fuel price increases, which has affected the prices of food items in the market and threatening the very survival of many families and small businesses.

“The recent mass recruitment exercises into the various security agencies is a pointer and an early warning signal that all is not well with the situation of our energetic youth whose economic woes are being worsened by the ongoing economic hardships”.
GPCC

Price Stabilization Recovery Levy

The Council stated that the current fuel situation and the recent temporary suspension of the Price Stabilization Recovery Levy (PSRL) is not far reaching enough to cushion Ghanaians. It therefore, advised the government to have a second look at this “since the purpose of the levy was savings meant to cushion the population in times like these when international oil prices hit the roof”.

While commending government for the temporary two months’ suspension of the PSRL, the Council averred that “it is our view that this is not far reaching enough”. The GPCC hereby outlined several practical measures that it thinks can help reduce the economic difficulties that are staring the ordinary Ghanaian on the face.

In addition to proposed downward revision of duties on imported commodities, the GPCC advised the government to reduce or completely scrap some of the taxes and levies on refined petroleum products at the pump and release into the system all funds accruing from the Price Stabilization and Recovery Levy to stabilize the price of fuel for the consumer.

“In fact, that is the purpose for which the levy was passed into law by Parliament”, the GPCC stressed in the statement.

Need to stabilize the local currency

The Council also expressed worry about the instability of the local currency against its major trading partners. Consequently, it urged the government to “take all fiscal and monetary measures to stabilize the depreciating local currency against the US dollar to further stabilize the prices of petroleum products and other imports whose prices are impacting negatively on the purchasing power of the ordinary citizen”.

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) assured the government of its support, especially under its partnership with government on the ‘YouBanC’ programme to facilitate access to youth enterprise development and employment through TVET skills acquisition.

The Council is optimistic that its suggestions “would find space in the Minister of Finance’s 2022 budget statement scheduled to be delivered to Parliament on Wednesday 17th November 2021”.