By Charles Takyi-Boadu
The Committee for Join Action (CJA) has turned the heat on President John Evans Atta Mills, and his National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, by kicking against the recent fuel price increases.
The pressure group is contending that the tendency of always passing the cost onto Ghanaians, whenever the price of crude oil shoots up on the world market, rather ends up aggravating the suffering of the average Ghanaian.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Spokesman for the group, Bernard Mornah, said "we are totally dissatisfied with the recent increases in fuel prices, and believe that a continuation of that policy would not be in the interest of the masses."
Mornah, who was flanked by some key members of the CJA, including Dr. David Percy, Felix Kwakye and Kwesi Adu, therefore charged the government to find an alternative, but more creative way, to address the issue of fuel price increases, stressing, "We cannot, as a nation, continue to purchase crude oil at spot market prices."
They threatened to advice themselves, if the government did not meet their demands for a reduction in fuel prices, and subsequent reduction in transport fares.
It has suggested to the government to consider the option of hedging, to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians, especially the poor and vulnerable in society.
The CJA stressed that further reduction in taxes on petroleum products could be done, if alternative sources of revenue are pursued.
In this light, the group has asked the government to make full disclosure of its indebtedness to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), urging it to thoroughly investigate the TOR debt recovery levy.
Pursuant to its objective of fighting economic hardships confronting the vast majority of Ghanaians, the CJA says it expects the NDC government to, as a matter of urgency, put in place pragmatic measures aimed at arresting the spiralling cost of living in the country, emphasising, "the conventional approach that Ghana has adopted over the years towards addressing our economic underdevelopment, has proved to be unreliable."
They have thus stressed the urgent need for Ghana, as a country, to undertake a complete overhaul of its economic paradigm.
Further, Mornah said it was the expectation of the CJA that the water crisis, that has bedevilled the people of Ghana for years on end, would be swiftly addressed by the Mills administration, saying, "not only should the phenomenon of carrying gallons and trekking long distances in search of water be brought to an end, but also clean, portable water should be made an affordable commodity for the generality of Ghanaians."
The pressure group also called on the government to review all agreements with foreign business concerns that have taken over the provision of water, but have proven unequal to the task.
It also urged the government to discontinue the policy of disposing strategic national assets any time the nation was in some financial difficulty, because the practice has not yielded many dividends to the nation, expressing its opposition to the surrender of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone.
"Although the surrender already took place under the NPP administration, we expect the government to review it with the aim of reclaiming the country's strategic assets and interests that were sold down the drain to Vodafone," they emphasised.
Though President Mills has indicated his preparedness to cut out, what he describes as the 'ostentatious and profligate' expenditure of former President Kufuor and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, Mr. Mornah was optimistic the commitment on the part of the incumbent President would be carried through, and not become a nine-day wonder.
"Furthermore, the culture of entitlements that has become so ingrained in the mindset of our politicians and public servants, leading to their taking home of fantastic retirement packages to the detriment of the national economy, must be done away with," he said, noting, "it is heartwarming to note therefore that the President has taken steps to ensure that the unacceptable recommendations of the Chinery-Hesse Committee are reviewed, in spite of the protestations of some powerful interest groups."
Dr. David Persy, on his part, said the CJA would advice itself it the government did not give due recognition to the issues they have raised.
Conspicuously absent at the meeting were Messrs. Kwesi Pratt, Ato Ahwoi and Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, who are all leading members of the group.
The pressure group is contending that the tendency of always passing the cost onto Ghanaians, whenever the price of crude oil shoots up on the world market, rather ends up aggravating the suffering of the average Ghanaian.
At a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Spokesman for the group, Bernard Mornah, said "we are totally dissatisfied with the recent increases in fuel prices, and believe that a continuation of that policy would not be in the interest of the masses."
Mornah, who was flanked by some key members of the CJA, including Dr. David Percy, Felix Kwakye and Kwesi Adu, therefore charged the government to find an alternative, but more creative way, to address the issue of fuel price increases, stressing, "We cannot, as a nation, continue to purchase crude oil at spot market prices."
They threatened to advice themselves, if the government did not meet their demands for a reduction in fuel prices, and subsequent reduction in transport fares.
It has suggested to the government to consider the option of hedging, to alleviate the plight of Ghanaians, especially the poor and vulnerable in society.
The CJA stressed that further reduction in taxes on petroleum products could be done, if alternative sources of revenue are pursued.
In this light, the group has asked the government to make full disclosure of its indebtedness to the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), urging it to thoroughly investigate the TOR debt recovery levy.
Pursuant to its objective of fighting economic hardships confronting the vast majority of Ghanaians, the CJA says it expects the NDC government to, as a matter of urgency, put in place pragmatic measures aimed at arresting the spiralling cost of living in the country, emphasising, "the conventional approach that Ghana has adopted over the years towards addressing our economic underdevelopment, has proved to be unreliable."
They have thus stressed the urgent need for Ghana, as a country, to undertake a complete overhaul of its economic paradigm.
Further, Mornah said it was the expectation of the CJA that the water crisis, that has bedevilled the people of Ghana for years on end, would be swiftly addressed by the Mills administration, saying, "not only should the phenomenon of carrying gallons and trekking long distances in search of water be brought to an end, but also clean, portable water should be made an affordable commodity for the generality of Ghanaians."
The pressure group also called on the government to review all agreements with foreign business concerns that have taken over the provision of water, but have proven unequal to the task.
It also urged the government to discontinue the policy of disposing strategic national assets any time the nation was in some financial difficulty, because the practice has not yielded many dividends to the nation, expressing its opposition to the surrender of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone.
"Although the surrender already took place under the NPP administration, we expect the government to review it with the aim of reclaiming the country's strategic assets and interests that were sold down the drain to Vodafone," they emphasised.
Though President Mills has indicated his preparedness to cut out, what he describes as the 'ostentatious and profligate' expenditure of former President Kufuor and his New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, Mr. Mornah was optimistic the commitment on the part of the incumbent President would be carried through, and not become a nine-day wonder.
"Furthermore, the culture of entitlements that has become so ingrained in the mindset of our politicians and public servants, leading to their taking home of fantastic retirement packages to the detriment of the national economy, must be done away with," he said, noting, "it is heartwarming to note therefore that the President has taken steps to ensure that the unacceptable recommendations of the Chinery-Hesse Committee are reviewed, in spite of the protestations of some powerful interest groups."
Dr. David Persy, on his part, said the CJA would advice itself it the government did not give due recognition to the issues they have raised.
Conspicuously absent at the meeting were Messrs. Kwesi Pratt, Ato Ahwoi and Madam Ama Benyiwa Doe, who are all leading members of the group.
