The Minority in Parliament has announced a nationwide 'outreach' to make a case for a reduction in fuel price.
Minority spokesperson on Energy, Adams Mutawakilu who addressed the media in his office in Parliament said, the fuel price could be reduced by at least 10%.
This can be achieved by the removal of the Special Petroleum Tax which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government introduced in 2014, he said.
The NDC government had planned its 2014 budget on oil price remaining at about $99 per barrel. But by November 2014, oil was selling for $50 per barrel.
Government which had hoped to rake in ¢4.2bn in revenue was now staring at ¢1.5bn. Some ¢2.7bn was gone with oil plummeting.
A 17.5% Special Petroluem Tax was introduced under a certificate of urgency and within 24hours, the law mandating the tax was passed much to the consternation of the Minority NPP.
Asokwa NPP MP, Kobina Tahir Hammond called the tax "a complete nonsense" and a "criminal offence". Agreeing with the description as "criminal", another NPP MP, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah vowed, he would "resist with my blood".
Two years into the collection of the tax, government bagged ¢931 million in additional revenue. But it had also lost power.
The new government, despite promising to scrap the tax, could only announce a reduction to 15% in March 2017.
The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), a year later, in 2018 embarked on a demonstration, observing that since President Akufo-Addo came to power in January 2017, petroleum prices have increased cumulatively by 28%.
Eight days after the demonstration, government has offered a 2% reduction in the Special Petroleum Tax to 13% in February 2018.
Mark Assibey Yeboah, who had vowed to resist the tax with his blood was now Chairman of Parliament's Finance committee and he called the 2% reduction "a big relief".
Petrol which was selling for ¢4.67ps would sell for ¢4.51ps while diesel sold at ¢4.67ps was to go for ¢4.48ps following the reduction.
But as at September 2018, petrol is selling beyond ¢5 per litre, sparking criticisms on social media.
The Minority in Parliament has repeated its call since 2017 that government ought to scrap the Special Petroleum Tax because it has outlived its usefulness.
It was brought in because oil price in 2014 had lost half of its value. But the NPP government had prepared its 2018 budget based on an oil price of $57.36 per barrel which is bringing in $669.4 million in revenue.
"We don’t need it at this stage", Minority spokesperson on Energy, Adams Mutawakilu said. He said the Minority NDC will start combing the regions and districts from October 15,2018.
The NDC MP said the Minority would "meet various stakeholders to prove to them the reason why we are calling on government that the Special Petroleum Tax should be taken off".
The tax is now 46 pesewas per litre of petrol, diesel and LPG. He said if a consumer bought five litres of fuel, government would be taking ¢2 as Special Petroleum Tax.
There are at least 11 different taxes on petroleum products constituting at least 49% of fuel price at the pump. In September 2017 when a litre of petrol sold at ¢4.39p, the tax on it amount to ¢2.17p
Source: JFM/Ghana
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I think these petrol taxes NDC is talking about were in the budget and all agreed to ensure revenue mobilization in the country. Why then do they turn around to say something else? The NDC presidential aspirants should be wary of these NDC MPs going round the country to talk about fuel prices. They are ganging up with Mahama to campaign for him using the party's resources. Before you are aware, he has taken unassailable lead for the presidential primaries. Mark my words.
This reflects a use**less minority who have nothing important to do. Tour the country because of fuel price increase? Why didn't they embark on a similar tour when their double salary issue broke? I blame he NPP for allowing them to make noise while their unprecedented corrupt acts are still pending.
PLEASE STOP THAT NONSENCE. WHAT DO YOU POLITICIANS TAKE US FOR? WHEN YOU ARE IN OPPOSITION ITS AS IF YOU CARE FOR THE CITIZENS WHEN YOU WIN POWER YOU SAY ANOTHER. YOU PEOPLE SHOULD GIVE US A BREAK
Dont bother to tour the nation. Speak from the Parliament House and those who have ears will hear. Those who want to listen will listen. You guys are trying desperately too hard it is sad and pathetic. You don't have to make too much noise to be heard. Ghanaians are beginning to understand the petrol price politics so it is no longer a vote winner. Why, because they know whoever comes to power cannot really do much about it. They would therefore look to benefit from the government in some other way.... which this government has provided plenty.
Will the NDC buy this high priced fuel to tour the country? Ns3m piiii.......
if they like they can go and tour the atlantic ocean, that will not make them alternative to npp. the tour is just meant to campaign for drosmani.
They can go the skies, who cares? if they were relevant in Ghana and they matter Ghanaians would have retained them, if Ghanaians listen to them on air what is the sense of the tour, it's all because Ghanaians don't care about the ndc ,Ghanaians are not listening to them so they think the people are deaf so let's go to them ,probably this time they will listen but they lie bad, the good people have taking their decision of never to allow the ndc near the seat of government! the people know ndc don't think of them, the people know ndc are freedy, selfish and wicked, the people know it is not of their interest but the ndc wanting power at all cost but will never work. Ndc find work to do and leave Ghanaians alone ,because the crude oil costing expensive abroad can't cost less in Ghana alone, the Ghanaian people believe the NPP more than you,so you take the lead and NPP will follow to explain to the people and we see who they will believe. Ndc has no credibility in Ghana and it is something they are finding g it hard to correct. Go, and Ghanaians will call it ndc madn*ss out of their electoral defeat. Ndc is not attractive to the people,only ndc diehards will listen and believe.
What is the useeless attorney general?when is she going to prosecute those who took double salaries....herrh npp fuuul paaa oooo
NDC ful.ls... you should rather do a worldwide tour..... NDC is a kriminal gang......
NDC AGAIN! Where is Ato Ahowe? He held a chalk to calculate fuel prices on blackboard. What did they do? Ghanaian are wise NOW!