The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) says the recent fuel price increment and other developments in the petroleum sector are leading the ordinary Ghanaian into precarious times and there is the need for urgent action to be taken to tackle it.
The government is expected to engage stakeholders within the energy sector later today, Tuesday, May 4, 2021, over the increase in petroleum products following the amendment of the Energy Sector Levy Act in the 2021 budget.
According to the Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, he is optimistic that all stakeholders at the meeting will have an honest discussion on the subject and proffer relevant solutions.
“We have a meeting on Tuesday with the energy minister. COPEC, the Oil Marketing Companies, the LPG guys are likely to be there as well as National Petroleum Authority (NPA). I’m sure that the minister will ask some of us what solutions we have in mind. I’m sure we will have a very honest discourse and look at the way forward because of where we are getting to. It is becoming quite precarious for the ordinary Ghanaian, and it is not good enough,” he stated.
The Energy Sector Recovery Levy introduced 20 Ghana pesewas on a litre of petrol and diesel and 18 pesewas per kg on Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) despite agitations by the affected unions.
The changes took effect on May 1, 2021.
Some oil marketing companies have already reflected the changes at the pumps with petrol and diesel selling for about GH¢6.10 pesewas from the GH¢5.45 pesewas it was being sold for last week.
There are fears that if nothing is done about the situation, the general prices of goods and services will also increase, bringing untold hardship on many Ghanaians whose wages and salaries are yet to see any corresponding increment.
