News:
Hon Thomas Ampem Nyarko
November 5, 2022
The Member of Parliament for Asuogyaman, Thomas Ampem Nyarko could no longer bear the brunt of the fuel price hikes on his pocket and that of his colleagues.
And the MP did not mince words when he expressed this sentiment on the floor of the House on Friday, 4th November, 2022 during the presentation of the Business Statement for the ensuing week.
According to him, the last time he went to fill his fuel tank, he spent GHC3000.00 and which he didn’t plan for, and it took the help of one of his colleagues to send him money to top up.
“So Mr. Speaker looking at the kind of business that we have, is it not possible to concentrate, we can stay for six hours a day instead of coming two hours we go back, drive here two hours we go back; pack the day even if it is eight (8) hours, we would be able to stay , do the business like two days and then… That way, we can save like GHC500 on fuel every week.
His suggestion he indicated is in line with the proposal by the former president John Mahama to organisations to allow those who can work from home to do so “because the fuel situation is killing us Mr. Speaker.
However, in a sharp rebuttal, the Majority Leader, Osei-Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu described the call as an “apocalyptic declaration” from the Member of Parliament, and queried what the impact would be on national productivity, and the effect on GDP. “I think it is an unfortunate call on us that we should be working for just two days in a week”.
He asserts that it is in difficult times that we should work harder to get ourselves out of it.
It used to be the burden of car owners each time fuel prices go up, but now even commuters that patronize commercial vehicles are not spared.
Recent fuel price hikes have resulted in astronomical increases in transport fares, as it appears transport operators keep increasing their fares on daily basis.
Unlike the usual practice, the driver unions seems to have lost control of their members and are unable to regulate how fares are increased.
Ghanamps.com