The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has called on government to, as a matter of urgency, reduce taxes on petroleum products, stabilise the cedi against the dollar and reduce import duties on building materials.

These demands constitute the GPCC’s call for government to take practical and immediate steps to ease the economic hardships faced by Ghanaians, including the teeming unemployed youth.

According to the Council, the rippling effects of the recent rampant fuel price increases on the prices of food items, is rather worrying.

In a press release dated November 16, the GPCC said the survival of families and small businesses is being threatened.

The Council says the huge turnout at recent mass state agency recruitment exercises should serve as an early warning signal to the government that all is not well and that something needs to be done to alleviate the economic hardship.

Addressing efforts made by the government to alleviate the economic hardship, particularly the temporary suspension of the Price Stabilisation Recovery Levy, the GPCC said the action is not sustainable and has failed to produce the desired effect.

The Council thus called on government to reduce taxes on petroleum products, stabilise the cedi and reduce import duties.

“Review downward, or outrightly remove some of the taxes and levies on refined petroleum products at the pump and release into the system all funds accruing from the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy to stabilise the price of fuel for the consumer.

“Take all fiscal and monetary measures to stabilise the depreciating local currency against the US dollar to stabilise further the prices of petroleum products and other imports whose prices are impacting negatively on the purchasing power of the ordinary citizen.

“Review duties downwards on some imported commodities, especially those on building materials and other essential commodities to relieve Ghanaians of the very high residential rental prices being demanded by property owners,” the Council stated.

The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council has further assured government of its support to facilitate access to youth enterprise development and employment through TVET skills acquisition, through the Council’s partnership with government on the ‘YouBanc’ programme.

They hoped their suggestions would make it into the Finance Minister’s Budget Statement scheduled for presentation tomorrow, November 17.