Ghanaians were welcomed into the New Year with an inexorable rise in the cost of basic essentials of life. Government’s wanton increments in tariffs and taxes has struck Ghanaians, home and abroad, with the yoke of increased financial burdens. The cost of electricity, water and fuel has risen sharply coupled with the introduction of new taxes and an increase in existing taxes, which together have resulted in a total increase of 154%.
Since June 2014 the price of a barrel of oil has seen a steep decline with a present price of US$35 per barrel. Logic and sound economic management would dictate that the cost of fuel at the pump would also see a decrease, thereby giving citizens some financial relief. Instead, what we have seen is a 27% increase. The two questions that spring to mind are “How”? and “Why”? On what logical basis can the Government acquiesce to a 27% increase, as sanctioned by the NPA, when it does not take an economist to figure that petrol prices should actually be going down? A Government that actually cared about its people would have intervened to take corrective action. Rather, the Government has visited its own people with this illogical back-breaking burden. It is indubitable that the increase in the cost of fuel will not only be felt at the pumps, but also in the cost of taxi fares, food and other essential everyday services and items.
Compounding the increase in the cost of fuel is the increase in the cost of electricity, which has risen by an eye-watering 67%. Water has also increased by 59%. How are these tariff increments and taxes different from the infamous Poll Tax introduced in the erstwhile colonial regime?
Fellow Ghanaians, it is important to note that, the current situation in the country can be likened to days within the colonial era – an era which saw our forefathers rise up to resist oppression and struggle for our independence. With their toil and bloodshed, we gained our liberty as a people. The only difference between now and then is that this oppression is from no other but by a Government elected by the people. And like our forefathers, we all have a moral responsibility to resist oppression in all forms. Indeed we are called to duty by our national anthem so to do.
Guided by the national anthem, Concerned Ghanaians calls for a nationwide action of mass civil disobedience. For the plea of the long-suffering Ghanaian has forever gone unheeded by a callous Government. We believe positive defiance is the only way for those that govern to pay attention to the plight of the masses. A government that does not listen does not deserve the obedience of its laws. It is time to make our voices heard.
<<Print>>