Reduce fuel prices or face unabated protests – COPEC to govt

The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has threatened to hold a nationwide demonstration against the government if it fails to reduce petroleum prices within a week.

In a statement issued and signed by Mr.  Duncan Amoah, the Executive Secretary of Copec-Ghana on Thursday, February 8, 2018, after the President Nana AddoDankwaAkufuAddo delivered the State of the Nation Address.

Mr Duncan Amoahnoted that they have been following with keen interests, today’s State of the Nation Address by the president to see if there is any solutions in place as far as the rising costs of fuel in the country is concerned, but unfortunately not a word or a line on prices, indicating no solution yet in sight as far as the increases are concerned.

‘’We wish to state for the avoidance of doubt our earlier stance, we demand for a downward review of the harsh and crippling taxes especially the Special Petroleum Tax (SPT), leading to these incessant increases and also caution further that, any more attempts at increases with the usual untenable excuses of grammar will be fiercely met with further protests and demonstrations using the mass approach this time’’ the release added.

Mr Duncan Amoah thanked all who participated in one way or the other in yesterday’s first in a series of demonstrations across the country to press home our demands for a review in the prices of fuel across the country.

Below is the full statement

CHAMBER OF PETROLEUM CONSUMERS-GHANA

POST DEMONSTRATION AND STATE OF NATION ADDRESS

REDUCE THE TAXES IN 14 DAYS.

08/02/08

We use this opportunity to say thank you to all who participated in one way or the other in yesterday’s first in a series of demonstrations across the country to press home our demands for a review in the prices of fuel across the country.

Having had a very successful, peaceful demonstration whose message has not only gone down to virtually all the regions and towns but also in the international media, our peaceful demonstration has seen a large support by millions across  country and beyond, the demonstrations though undesirable is scheduled to be sustained till such a time the results become visible by way of reductions in fuel prices to ease the pressures in our pockets.

We have followed with keen interests, today’s State of the Nation Address by the president to see if there is any solutions in place as far as the rising costs of fuel in the country is concerned, but unfortunately not a word or a line on prices, indicating no solution yet in sight as far as the increases are concerned.

We wish to state for the avoidance of doubt our earlier stance, we demand for a downward review of the harsh and crippling taxes especially the Special Petroleum Tax (SPT), leading to these incessant increases and also caution further that, any more attempts at increases with the usual untenable excuses of grammar will be fiercely met with further protests and demonstrations using the mass approach this time.

We will want to believe the appropriate authorities will stop the needless attempts to rationalise and justify the rather high fuel prices currently at the various pumps and rather work to reduce these prices.

We continue to keep an eye on the situation and will roll out our next line of action in the next two weeks IF the spate of increases continues.

Signed

Duncan Amoah

Executive Secretary

Copec-Ghana

Source: otecfmghana.com/ Gyamerah Louis