Ranking Member on the Roads and Transport Committee of Parliament, Kwame Governs Agbodza has criticised the government for the ‘insensitive’ increase in transport fares amidst the Coronavirus pandemic.
According to him, subsidizing fuel prices would have benefitted both drivers and passengers instead of increasing fuel prices.
Speaking to GhanaWeb, he said a reduction in fuel prices could have been possible considering the huge sums of money the government has received to support businesses in the name of Covid-19.
“This is yet another way the NPP is showing their attitude of insensitivity to the people of this country. Despite COVID-19, this government have been handed over almost 16.5 billion Ghana cedis as part of the stabilization fund, one billion dollars from the IMF/world bank and bank of Ghana also supporting with 10 billion Ghana cedis. This whooping sum of money is outside the monies that have been borrowed already. This government is unable to show what they have done with this money. They consistently increased the price of fuel and increased transport fares. Now those who do commercial transport are struggling because prices of spare part have been going up, fuel price have been going up consistently and they have no choice.
“Because of COVID, the public transport operators can’t carry full load, they have to do social distancing, so basically, this is the final nail in the coffin on those people who depend on transportation as a means of earning a living. So this is extremely insensitive on the part of the NPP government. They have totally messed up the economy despite their stories about how they are better managers of the economy, is that what people are seeing in their transport fares?” he quizzed.
The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) announced an increment of transport fares effective July 11, 2020 after an agreement with government on a 15% hike.
However, the Minority in Parliament insist this is not the right time to implement such a move as the country is currently battling with COVID-19.
Mr Agbodza stressed, “we called for subsidy of fuel prices when the 600 million was supposed to be used to cushion businesses, they rather went round the country to give their members 2000 cedis instead of supporting the real business.”
Source: GhanaFeed.com
