Ghanaians have been having engagements with government officials on the relief measures introduced by the Akufo-Addo administration early this year to mitigate economic challenges in the country as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and other international crises.
This is to enable government institute further policy interventions that would give more relief to the people to cushion them against local and global economic difficulties.
Accordingly, some ministers of state met with leadership of a number of trade groups and transport operators in Accra on Monday in a series of engagements with key stakeholders within the Ghanaian economy.
The three-hour interaction provided government with an opportunity to assess the impact of the economic mitigation measures it announced in March this year.
Present at the meeting the leadership of various trade groups, market queens and transport operators were the senior advisor to the President, Yaw Osafo-Maafo; Minister for Information Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister for Food and Agriculture Dr Owusu Afriyie-Akoto and Minister for Transport Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.
These minister together with Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Local Government Dan Botwe; and Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen, have been tasked to collate information on the information on the policy intervention and report to Cabinet for more action to reduce the suffering of Ghanaians.
During frank discussions, the traders attributed the high price of food commodities currently being experienced in Ghana’s market places to the increase in fuel prices, high cost of value chain activities and the seasonality of food products.
They added that high cost of haulage of food commodities from the farm gates to market centers significantly influences prices of food products in the market, calling on the government to consider a reduction in fuel prices.
Speaking specifically on interventions in the sector, Dr. Afriyie-Akoto said that though the government on its part is doing all it can to address these concerns.
He however appealed to the traders to also ensure that food items in the market are not overpriced.
High fuel prices
The transport operators also bemoaned the unfavourable increase in ex-pump prices of petrol and diesel, the high cost of spare parts, and its associated impact on their transport businesses. The group acknowledged that the burden would have been much harsher had government in the past month not scrapped some levies in the fuel price build up.
However, they appealed to the government to further scrap some taxes on petroleum products to cushion the burden on consumers and enable them sustain their businesses.
Oppong Nkrumah commended the groups for the views expressed and noted that, they were all geared towards helping the government address the rising food and fuel prices in the country.
He gave them the assurance that the government will take the necessary actions to lessen the burden on Ghanaians as reports will be conveyed to cabinet for the necessary action.
