Member of Parliament for Okaiwei North, Theresa Lardi Awuni, has asked the government to reduce fuel prices to ensure strict adherence to social distancing in commercial vehicles.
According to Ms. Awuni in a press statement copied Awake News, the Covid-19 situation and couple with congestutions in public transprot “is undoubtedly a public health and safety issue, especially in ensuring we win the fight against the deadly pandemic that has plagued humanity in recent history”.
She is worried over the alarming rate of community infection and the death toll whereas there are no respect for social distancing protocols in the public transports.
“Ghana’s COVID-19 cases as at February 14, 2021 is at a record high that is Confirmed cases = 75,836, Active Cases = 8,216, Death = 533, Recoveries = 67,087, New Cases = 718″ – She cited the Ghana Health Service data.
Hon. Theresa Lardi noted that “in the wake of the recent escalation in our country’s coronavirus cases, one of the vital tools for risk reduction and to slow down the spike is for strict adherence to the Covid-19 protocols especially social distancing. Majority of our population use public transport on daily basis to commute from and to work, for their business engagements etc. It is therefore an undeniable fact that with the sort of sitting arrangement we have in our commercial vehicles, they are a fertile ground for the breeding and escalation of the novel Coronavirus”.
The newly swron in MP is therefore calling on government to implement a 15% reduction of the cost of fuel and enforce commeocial drivers to follow suit by reducing the number of passengers in their vehicles. The fueld price reduction she said will ease the burden of Ghanaians drivers should they reduces the number of passegers.
“We recalled, the President announced the following measures to limit the spread of Covid-19 in March 2020. All passenger carrying-vehicles including taxis seating 1-3 passengers on a row shall seat not more than two passengers on a row. All passenger carrying-vehicles seating 1-4 passengers on a row shall seat not more than three passengers on a row. All passenger carrying vehicles seating 1-5 passengers on a row shall seat not more than three passengers on a row” – Hon. Awuni said
Speaking on the implications and importance of her plead she reiterated “It must be noted that, when that decision was taken, our case count was considerably low as compared to recent times. In addition, during the period of the restrictions last year, 2020, the prices of fuel globally were on the decline. Currently there is no observation of Social distancing in commercial vehicles even though the spread of COVID-19 is on the rise.”
“Moreover, the global prices of Crude oil and petroleum products continue to increase, forcing local Gasoil and Gasoline prices to rise by over 10% in the past few weeks to average GHS 23 per gallon. It is for these important indicators including the appeal from my constituents that l humbly seeks to make this statement for the President as a matter of urgency to re-enforce the restriction and limitation of the number of passengers carried by commercial vehicles and back it by absorbing 15% of the cost of fuel to ease the burden on transport operators, who had to comply with Social distancing protocols”. – she makes a case.
Even more, she called on President Nana Akufo Addo to “extend same price reductions to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) which is vital to women in cooking for our husbands and children and most importantly this is supposed to bring some relief for households even as schools re-opens. And that ” government must consider taking necessary steps at the various bus stations to aid in the sensitization of the public and commuters against Covid-19 as those places are very delicate places for escalation of the disease in the country”.
She concluded her statement by empathizing “with all those grieving on the loss of their beloved, and wish all those infected by COVID-19 a speedy recovery. I urge our fellow countrymen and women to stay calm, safe and healthy. Let’s wash our hands regularly, practice social distancing, avoid contact with nose, eye and mouth and regularly use the sanitizer”.
Filed By : Agaatorne Douglas Asaah / awakenewsroom.com
