The Ghanaian Trades Union Congress has requested that the government immediately suspend all taxes and charges on gasoline goods.
Fuel prices have risen by nearly 54% since January 2022, according to the Union, and this has already had a considerable negative impact on living conditions.
"The erosion of income values has been significant, particularly for fixed-wage workers. Furthermore, the rippling effects of rising fuel prices on the general level of prices of other basic commodities have pushed many more Ghanaians into poverty."
"The situation must be addressed without further delay," the TUC said in a press statement signed by Secretary-General Dr Yaw Baah. "Otherwise, many more Ghanaians will be pushed into destitution."
The Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has added to the pressure on world crude oil prices and the significant depreciation of the cedi, has created the recent problems of residents, according to the Union.
The TUC, on the other hand, believes that eliminating taxes and levies on petrol, diesel, LPG, and kerosene will result in a 15% reduction in the price of these fuel items.
"The suspension should be in place until the international price of crude oil stabilizes and the cedi's slide is stopped." Fuel price reductions should presumably result in the stabilization or even reduction of prices for other vital commodities, such as food.
More importantly, these gasoline taxes and charges should be suspended.