Fuel price hike too harsh-residents

A cross-section of residents in Dormaa Ahenkro in Brong Ahafo think the recent hike in fuel prices "is too harsh and unbearable".

Many of the residents expressed their misgivings and sentiments in a survey conducted by Ghana News Agency since the Energy Minister announced the new prices.

Mr Borquaye Abdel-Salaam, a civil servant observed, "Rome was not built in a day and the Government needs to take a second look at the issue".

The increases will surely compound the problems of the people as they will affect the prices of commodities and cost of services, he noted.

Mr Abdel-Salaam appealed to the Government to increase the salaries of workers to at least 70 percent to enable them to cope with the situation.

Baffour Osei Akoto, Supply Officer, said the 3.4 trillion cedis debt incurred as a result of the subsidy paid by the Government on fuel "needs to be addressed to put the economy on a sound footing".

The Government cannot continue with this policy, he said and appealed to Ghanaians to exercise maximum restraint and patience.

He also called on the Government to give realistic wages and salaries to workers to cushion them as a result of the increases in fuel prices.

The Reverend Alex Gyan-Benneh, Pastor in-charge of Temple of Praise Ministries, noted that the increases would bridge the gap between Ghana and its neighbouring countries in respect of fuel prices and would discourage the smuggling of the commodity to those countries.