The Coalition of Transport Unions and Associations has threatened an upward adjustment of transport fares by 20% if some taxes on petroleum products are not removed.
A statement jointly signed by the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), and Cargo Drivers Association on Monday, August 21, called for the abolishment of the Sanitation and Pollution Levy, the Energy Sector Levy, the Energy Debt Recovery Levy, and the Special Petroleum Tax.
The transport operators described those taxes as a “burden” and urged the Akufo-Addo government to scrape them to ease the “unnecessary pressure on drivers and consumers”
The Associations also stressed that the purpose for the introduction and implementation of those taxes has failed hence the need to remove them.
The government has been given a two-week ultimatum to scrap those taxes or transport fares will be increased by 20%.
Below is the full statement
Press Release… 21/08/2023
COALITION OF TRANSPORT UNIONs AND ASSOCIATIONs .
TRANSPORT FARES LIKELY TO INCREASE BY 20%
The Coalition of Transport Union and Association is calling on the government to abolish some burden taxes from the petroleum price build-up to ease the uncessary pressure on drivers and consumers.
As an association, we believe by the government abolishing the Sanitation and pollution Levy, the Energy sector Levy, the Energy debt recovery Levy, and the special petroleum tax which the Supreme Court in 2015 ruled that it should be taken off should all not have a place in the price build-up.
We will also wish to state that, the purpose of implementation and allocation of the above taxes has failed woefully and the ceased functioning.
We trust that taking these taxes out will create a space in the price build-up to bring prices down and will ease unnecessary pressure on drivers and our stakeholders.
Below are some significant increments from last year’s December.
1. In December last year Car battery 13 plate was sold at 400ghc, it is now 670ghc
2.Car battery 15 plate was sold at 550ghc,it now 750ghc.
3. VIP buses car tyres Rim 22.5 were sold at 2500ghc ,it now going down 3600ghc.
4.Toyota vitz rim 14/15 tyres were sold at 80ghc ,it now 200ghc home used or second hands tyres.
5.Goil engine oil was sold at 120ghc ,it now 210ghc per gallon and Brake fluid 15 now 35ghc.
6.Shocks absorbers were 180ghc now 350ghc as well as Link bar 80 now 150ghc.
7.Sprinter bus was sold at 120,000ghc now 220,000ghc, Toyota vitz was sold at 36,000ghc now 120,000ghc.
8.Sprinter tyres brand new 1000ghc now 1,700ghc, Home used tyres sprinter 360ghc now 780ghc.
9.Scion engine 3,500ghc now 13,000ghc, Electronics engine was sold at 12,000ghc now 25,0000ghc.
We are therefore giving the government two weeks to scrub these taxes out or we increase fares by 20%.
Thank you.
Long live Ghana
Long live Drivers
