Ghanaians today, Thursday, June 16, woke up to astronomical prices of petroleum products, sparking widespread outrage.
Diesel is currently selling at GHC 13 per litre (approximately US$1.7), while petrol is selling for about GHC 11 per litre (approximately 1.5).
These are extreme and unprecedented rates that has ticked off explosive anger among the public, including Bernard Avle, the main anchor of CITI TV and CITI FM morning show presenter.
“Diesel is 13 Ghana cedis, have you seen some in your life? Mr. Avle charged the “incompetent” Akufo Addo administration that has supervised the regime of runaway prices of ex-pump petroleum products.
“You put seven taxes on one product. When there is windfall you don’t give it to us. You think we don’t read? What is the sanitation levy doing there? All the recovery levies, what are they recovering? The citizens are suffering! Bernard Avle fumed uncharacteristically.
Last week, the transport unions warned that they will hike fuel prices because of the unbridled petroleum increases.
Prices of petrol and diesel have shot up by 7.3 percent and 9.7 percent respectively, in the last one month.
Prior to the latest increases in petroleum products, petrol was trading at an average of GHC 10.10 per litre while the national average for diesel was pegged at GHS 12.20 per litre.
In response, transport fares went up by 20 percent last month.
There are indications that the transport unions will respond in kind to match the fuel price hikes which will shoot inflation off the handle.
The Deputy General Secretary in Charge of Operations of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Richard Yaw Amankwah recently stated that commercial drivers have not seen any significant increase in their fares to offset the impact of the petroleum increases on their business.
The GPRTU recently implemented a 20 percent increment in transport fares shortly after a 15% increase earlier this year.
It appears commuters and businesses in Ghana will have to bear another possible hike in transport fares in response to the latest hikes at the fuel pumps.