In Monrovia, a new practice of inspection of vehicles and their registration is being followed by government officials. With the rise in petrol prices, the citizens are distressed by this ongoing activity by the Ministry of Transport. The inspectors block the roads as early as 5:30 in the morning and start inspecting all passing vehicles' registration, license, and insurance.
This huge traffic jam is causing many difficulties when gas prices are at their peak. Drivers rather stand in parking and wait for their turns to be inspected as they can't afford to waste fuel in the dense traffic. Commercial transport fares have also risen again considering that there is yet another rise in the price of petrol expected soon by the government. When comparing the fuel prices in Liberia with other countries, we find that in Sierra Leone, the prices rose by 65 cents. In Togo, the price still stands at $3.2, and in Ghana, it is $4.33.
While in Liberia, the prices leaped from $4 to $5.66, and diesel is sold at $6 today.
This instant increase in fuel prices in Liberia confirms that while other countries are taking a modest step toward the rising prices, Liberia is overcharging the citizens and slogging 30 to 40 percent of the income earned. Different political groups have also come together to make the government aware that rising prices are not justifiable to this extent. However, as all other countries in Africa face the same issues due to the Russia -Ukraine war, the rise in prices is not that significant.
As the prices of fuel rise, so do other commodities like food and other goods, ultimately raising the living cost.
The drivers are facing tough times when the prices of petrol are rising, and they are asked to provide every piece of the document before moving ahead with their passengers. Mr.Fred D Kwidee and other drivers together are all tired of this insensitive behavior of the ministry of transport, which is overburdening them with their daily struggles.
They say that we can hardly make money out of the rising fares, and all that we make is now spent upon buying the limited fuel that runs out in the traffic jams caused by the inspection. Another driver in Liberia, Peter Yancy, says that we chose this government and expected it to make the right choices, but here we are, with hyperinflation and no jobs. He says that I am a graduate and was unemployed for three years and gave up on my degree and started working as a driver. So now again, we are given another hurdle of this inspection and rising prices simultaneously.
The former President of the Press Union of Liberia, Mr. Peter Quaqua, had also written a letter to the ministry of transport to cease this inspection for the time being as this tax revenue can be collected at another time and this is the worst time the government is bothering the already distressed citizens.
