The Coalition of Commercial Transport Operators will begin an indefinite nationwide strike today, Monday, December 6, 2021, in protest of the country’s high fuel costs.
This follows a week in which drivers wore red armbands.
According to the operators, the government has ignored their request to eliminate certain duties on fuel in order to reduce the price, prompting their decision.
Abash Imoro, a spokesperson of the group and the Ghana Private Road Transport Union’s Head of Communications, told Citi News that the action is a signal to the government that their issues must be addressed.
“We have realized they [government] are not taking us seriously hence our insistence to make sure we start the strike on Monday, December 6, 2021.”
“Maybe when we start the strike and they realize how serious we are, they will start taking us seriously. We can’t tell how long the strike will take but we have further plans which we cannot reveal now.”
Mr. Abass Imoro pleaded with Ghanaians to be patient as they began their sit-down strike.
He maintains that the move is not intended to penalize passengers but rather to advocate for improved working conditions for drivers.
“We are pleading with the citizens that we care about them that is why we are embarking on this action for our collective good. We want to assure them that we enjoy the driver-passenger relationship and that we have no bad intention to punish them.”
Fuel prices in the nation have climbed dramatically during the last six months, prompting widespread outrage.
Currently, the majority of Ghana’s oil marketing organizations sell fuel between GH6.60 and GH6.90 per litre.
Fuel prices in 2021 began at about GH5 per litre and are now on the verge of crossing the GH7 mark.
Seven taxes on fuel are levied, totaling GH1.9 per litre bought.
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SOURCE: CITINEWS
