Africa-Press – Ghana. Cabinet has instructed the Transport Minister to ensure the expedited deployment of 100 newly acquired Metro Mass buses as part of the government’s effort to address public transportation challenges.
Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications announced this at a post Cabinet Meeting press conference at the Presidency in Accra.
The emergency Cabinet meeting was held to discuss the effects of the recent significant geopolitical developments in the shape of the US-Israeli-Iranian conflict and its impact on fuel prices.
Mr Ofosu noted that another batch of 100 buses were expected in August, and the last batch of 100 in November to make up 300.
He said the Transport Minister had been instructed by the Cabinet to ensure expedited deployment of these buses in high-traffic corridors to ensure that it alleviates any difficulties that might have arisen out of the recent fuel price increases.
“The Transport Minister has also been charged with ensuring that these Metro Mass buses, in addition to the existing ones, charge or maintain transport fares which are lower than what private sector operators charge,” he said.
“And this is to ensure that the needs are cushioned, especially when we reach peak periods at the rush hour.”
He said in addition to this, the President reminded all Ministers and Senior Government officials and appointees to adhere strictly to his ban on fuel allowances and the allocation of fuel, which applied to all Ministers and Senior Government officials.
He said immediate steps should be taken to reduce the price of fuel through the removal of some taxes and margins on fuel, effective the next pricing window, which is about a week.
He said since the start of the United States-Israel conflict with Iran, the price of crude oil and finished products had gone up significantly, which had impacted economies around the world, especially regarding the price of fuel at the pump.
“The Cabinet noted the major economic gains that have been made over the last year and a few months through the significant appreciation of the Ghana cedi and its stability, the lowering of inflation to around 3.2 per cent, and other such gains within the country.”
He explained that these gains had in themselves served to mitigate the impacts of the current conflict and the price of fuel compared to what was obtained in 2022 when the Ukrainian conflict broke out.
He said the Cabinet noted that despite the cushioning effects of the economic gains that they had made, there had still been some impacts on fuel prices at the pump.
He said consequently, Cabinet had decided that measures be taken to mitigate the impact of the recent increases that Ghanaians had seen in fuel prices, which were solely attributable to the conflict that had arisen.
“The first directive that the Cabinet has issued is that the finance and energy ministers should take immediate steps to reduce the price of fuel through the removal of some taxes and margins on fuel, effective the next pricing window, which is about a week from today.”
“After the four weeks, the situation will be reviewed. And as and when it is deemed necessary, appropriate actions will be taken.”
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