Petroleum consumers have lamented the rising prices of fuel in the country.

Petrol and diesel are currently being sold at an average of ¢18 and ¢23 per litre, from the previous prices of ¢15 and ¢19 per litre respectively.

Already, some leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have adjusted the prices of petroleum products at their pumps.

They attribute the significant increase in the price of fuel to the sharp depreciation of the cedi over the past two weeks.

This, according to the petroleum consumers, has made the plight of the average Ghanaian worse.

Petroleum consumers have called for urgent steps to stem the hike in the price of the product believed to be the cause of the current high cost of living.

“If I fill first it was ¢350 but right now almost ¢600 if I fill this car. I do not make money. Sometimes you will drive all day and even fuel money you will not get, but we are hoping and praying to God that things can turn around for us,” one consumer lamented.

“We are feeling it and the rate at which it is increasing is our problem. Formally it increases in bits so maybe two to three weeks you will know how to manage and get to level. Now the rate at which it is increasing is too much, ” another consumer said.

“Prices of goods and services have increased. Now the situation is getting worse, so government should take steps to solve this.”

This latest increment comes barely 48 hours after President Akufo-Addo announced plans to import cheaper fuel. The latest adjustment however continues to bite hard.

Meanwhile, the Oil Marketing companies have justified the new prices of petroleum products.

They say the new prices are a reflection of the depreciation of the cedi and prices on the international market.

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah said the government’s plan to import cheaper fuel has taken off.

“In President Kufuor’s time, we did it with Nigeria, Sahara lifting for us and you could have supply credit lines and a fixed price that you could bank on and it is a very similar arrangement that has already commenced and I am expecting that in the coming weeks the NPA, the Energy Ministry will have the opportunity to provide the details,” he said on PM Express, Monday.