The former Finance Minister, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has hit hard at government following the strike action of the Commercial Transport Operators on Monday, December 6, 2021.
The Coalition says the government for the past two weeks has failed to heed their calls for some taxes to be scrapped off hence the decision to embark on the sit-down strike.
Reacting to the situation which got most commuters stranded in the early hours of Monday, Dr. Kwabena Duffour in a Facebook post lambasted the ruling New Patriotic Party Government for failing to scrap all new and existing nuisance taxes on petroleum products to stabilise fuel prices in the country.
The former governor of the Bank of Ghana reiterated that government has been insensitive to the call of commercial drivers to reduce fuel prices.
“The public transport crisis is a testament to the insensitivity of the government’s nuisance taxes on petroleum products and their inconsistency with the reality of Ghanaians now. Resolutions must be reached today. Ghanaians cannot wake up to this tomorrow.” Dr. Kwabena Duffour posted on Facebook
Passengers were left stranded in most parts of Accra following the strike by the Coalition of Commercial Transport Operators which started on Monday December 6, 2021.
The situation which passengers described as unfortunate halted movement of persons and goods within the Accra Metropolis.
Republic Media engaged some commuters who expressed worry over the sit-down strike by the commercial drivers.
Speaking to Theophilus Amoah, he said he tried getting a Bolt ride to his destination but the fare was too high for him to pay. He also engaged a taxi driver who charged triple the normal fare to his destination.
According to Mr Amoah, he waited for over three hours till a good Samaritan with his personal car commuted him to his destination.
Republic Media captured passengers trekking on foot from areas like Olubu, Amomorley, Nsakina, NIC, Nsunfa, Anyaa and Awoshie to Lapaz, Accra and Kaneshie because they couldn’t afford the high cost of Uber, Bolt, Yango, Taxis, Okada and other means of transport.
Most lorry stations were empty, with some frustrated passengers engaging the services of commercial motorbike (Okada) riders, others walking.
At some stations, passengers formed long queues in anticipation of getting a vehicle to market centres and their places of work.
Meanwhile, the leadership of GPRTU have suspended their indefinite nationwide strike.
According to the leadership of GPRTU, the president has therefore called on them for an emergency meeting at the Jubilee house.
