16 Driver Unions Suspend Intended Strike Over Fuel Prices
Spokesperson of the Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union (GPRTU), Imoro Abbass says some 16 drivers union have agreed to call off the strike slated for Thursday, November 11.
According to him, the strike will however happen next week Tuesday, November 16 if their concerns are not addressed after the budget presentation by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.
“After Monday if the budget is being presented and our grievances are not considered then Tuesday we are going embark on our strike. So this is the decision taken,” he said in an interview with Accra-based TV.
He added that the union will meet to decide the way forward if the reading is rescheduled to Wednesday.
“And just evening I have heard the budget presentation have been shifted to Wednesday and I am not in the position to say we have to shift it to Thursday but tomorrow we have our leadership all of us have to meet and consider if we have to wait after Wednesday because we are just interested in reducing the fuel prices so that all drivers will work happily so that they something out of the hard days work.“
He said the strike is supposed to give drivers a breathing space to their sufferings.
“We only want the prices of fuel to be reduced so that at the end of a hard day’s work, we can get something home.”
The intended strike come against the backdrop of some Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) increasing the price of fuel by about 10 pesewas. A litre of petrol is currently being sold at about GH₵6.90 at most fuel vending stations.
In the midst of the upward adjustments, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) urged drivers not to increase lorry fares.
These developments have made drivers agitated. They have stated their unpreparedness to continue to put up with the high cost of fuel.
Sixteen driver unions also made demands for government to scrap some taxes on petroleum products otherwise they will withdraw their services on Thursday at 3:00pm.
According to the unions, they have identified at least five taxes that they believe serve no useful purpose thus the energy debt recovery levy, the Road fund levy, Energy sector levy, Sanitation levy and Special petroleum levy.
Government has since the recent hikes in prices announced the suspension of two levies for the next two months, but the unions say this is inadequate.
