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The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by President John Dramani Mahama yesterday did what most fishermen in the country described as the �unthinkable� through the National Petroleum Authority (NPA�s) to increase the price of premix fuel by a whopping five percent. The premix of the commodity has gone up by almost 5 percent and is selling at 1 Ghana cedi 25 pesewas (GH�1.25p), increment fishermen who spoke to this paper said they cannot afford. To them, the increment is a form of dribbling or �sulia� by the Mahama government which they hoped would heed their cries for a downward review of the commodity which is used in fishing vessels. Fishermen in the country through the Inshore Fishermen Association last week complained that the cost of premix has pushed many of their members out of business. Its National President, Mr. Joseph Nii Quaye Nii Quaye disclosed that one fishing expedition which used to cost about GH�400, including food, ice blocks and fuel, has now shot up to about GH�2,000. A situation, which he said has made fishing not viable, since the catch was far below the operational cost. �The current situation is such that if the government does not come to our aid by restoring the subsidy on fuel, the industry will collapse,� he stressed. Thus, the fishermen following their highly publicised complaints hoped the government would think through them and possibly, adjust the price of the commodity to allow them to continue to remain in business. �We thought the government would even listen to us�he should know that we are suffering so he should show some level of sympathy other than just increasing the commodity haphazardly�,� an angry fisherman, Nii Aryittey who spoke to Today after the announcement said. To this end, various fishermen who spoke to the paper registered their displeasure at the increment with some saying they would in no time park their canoes and lay the men and women who help them in their fishing expeditions off to go look for another venture to engage in. �And what does the government want us to do�what would we do if the fishermen don�t bring the fishes for us to smoke�maybe we should all go and struggle for political offices and go out of the business�,� Naa Ayorkor-Okine, a fishmonger told this reporter in James Town. Per the announcement by the NPA, petrol which has been increased by 7% would be sold at GH�2 .73 and kerosene which is also up by 0.38 percent will be selling at GH�2 .36. A kilogram of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) will now sell at GH� 2 .87 with diesel going for GH�2. 79. Marine gas oil and residual fuel did not see any adjustments. Meanwhile, the Greater Accra Chairman of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), Mr. Robert Sarbah has described as �totally false�, the assertions that there will be no hikes in transport fares until June this year. �Prices in transport fares will inevitably be increased following hikes in fuel prices�passengers will not escape from this increase� the Greater Accra Chairman of GPRTU was reported to have said this on Accra-based Joy fm yesterday. This is contrary to the assurance by the NPA in January this year that transport fares would not be increased until June this year. The new prices undoubtedly will affect operations at the transport industry, especially in respect of transport fares. Robert Sarbah said, the union held on to the old fares despite increases in fuel prices in February and March, adding this time there will be a corresponding increase in transport fares. �We cannot run the transport business without increasing transport fares when fuel prices are increased,� he stated.