Head of Communications at the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) Abbas Imoro, has disclosed that GOIL will commence reducing fuel prices at its pump stations following consultative meeting with government over high fuel prices and request for scrapping of taxes on fuel.
According to him, the President stepped into the matter of their strike action which took place on December 6, 2021 that saw throngs of people trekking to their various workplaces and requested the strike be suspended. Mr Imoro explained that at the transport union’s meeting with government, the union tabled its grievances to the transport minister who expressed government’s intent on how best it will rectify the union’s issue.
“They told us that yes, the taxes that we are looking for, the total scrapping must have to go through parliament for approval… So, in the interim, they will start with using GOIL since that is the only oil company that they have control over, to start reducing the prices for us. They even promised… GOIL will start reducing so that they will force the other oil marketing companies also because if you have higher price, nobody will patronise your product. So, after lengthy discussions, this is what we arrived at and we had to put down some conditions that, we want to take your [government] words but should there be any awkward in their prices, then maybe we’ll have to reassemble… after all it’s the current fuel prices that we are looking at…”
Mr Abass Imoro
Commenting on the exact reduction price of fuel at GOIL pumps, Mr Imoro indicated that government was not “specific” because they cannot initiate a one-time reduction but will progressively reduce it as days go by.
“If there’s any promise that we are going to start with this… why not? So, we accepted it in good faith. Our people will see what the leadership has done for them. After going through the strike and the suffering that we’ve been through, something really has started to reduce the pains that we have”.
Mr Abass Imoro
Government expresses commitment to resolving issues
The Union’s spokesperson emphasized that he would not “advertise” for GOIL when it comes to which fuel station his members should patronize, although he prefers GOIL due to the “quality” he is guaranteed anytime he makes purchases there.
“Most of our people have also observed same. So, we are not here to advertise for any OMC. The understanding we had is if GOIL starts reducing their products, others [will do same] because they are in a competitive world”.
Mr Abass Imoro
Mr Imoro intimated that the Union is aware that most of the taxes goes through parliament for approval before they come into “existence” and his outfit recognizes the fact that it must go through parliament. He indicated that government has expressed its commitment to factor in drivers’ concerns of the review of some taxes in its mid-year budget.
“We researched and found out that some of the taxes could be reduced for us whereby it will alleviate us from the current suffering situation which we are [in]… They promised that somewhere mid-year budget, they will try to see that, if not all, could do something about some of the taxes for us”.
Mr Abass Imoro
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