Ghana: Parliament to intervene impasse over energy taxes

(AGI) - Accra, 18 gen. - The Labour Committee of Ghana's parliament is looking to intervene in the impasse between labour and government over taxes on petroleum products and hikes in utility prices. Vice chair of the labour committee of parliament, Hon Joseph Bukari told Journalists on Friday, the committee will be meeting both sides and appeal to them to negotiate a way out of the gridlock. Organized labour has served notice it will begin the first of a series of demonstrations next week to pile pressure on government to reduce the hikes in utilities and taxes on petroleum products.Organized labour is demanding the immediate withdrawal of the Energy Sector Levy Act which has resulted in up to 28 percent increase in fuel prices. The group is also demanding a reduction in the hike in prices of utilities. Two forms of meetings with government at the seat of government (Flagstaff House) broke down after both parties failed to reach an agreement on the matter. Government has justified the hikes following the difficulties encountered in the energy sector. The tariff adjustment and other levies have therefore been described as social interventions, engineered to cushion poor ghanaians. (AGI) .