(Ecofin Agency) - In Ghana, The General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union, a unit of Trade Union Congress (TUC) on Thursday announced that it does not support the 27 % hike in the prices of petroleum products.

The General Secretary of the Union, Fuseini Iddrisu, in a statement stated that if the government does not revoke the new fuel price, it will worsen the harsh economic conditions in the country. “It is obvious that the new fuel price levels would aggravate the already harsh economic conditions that the working people of Ghana are currently facing not least the increases in utility prices visited upon Ghanaians before the Christmas holidays. As already demanded by leaders of the Organized Labour, we call for an immediate reduction in the prices of the utilities”, Iddrisu said.

He added that the union will partner with TUC and Organized Labour to make sure that the unjustifiable and burdensome government policies are revoked and the so-called Energy Sector Levy is withdrawn.

Fuel pump prices had increased between 22 % and 27 % after the parliament passed the Energy Sector Levy (ESL) in December 2015. Consumers in Ghana currently pay about GH¢15 for a gallon of petrol which many say is unreasonable.

According to the officials of the TUC, the levy was hastened without public consultations, Business and Financial Times News reports.

Anita Fatunji