The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has cautioned that while government intervention to reduce fuel prices may provide short-term relief, such measures are unlikely to be fiscally sustainable if relied upon repeatedly. The caution comes after President John Dramani Mahama approved a temporary GH¢2.00-per-litre reduction in the regulatory margin on diesel for one month, effective August 4, to cushion consumers, businesses and public transport operators against rising fuel prices. COPEC said the intervention was understandable, noting that unchecked increases in fuel prices would trigger higher transport fares, raise the cost of goods and services, drive inflation and ultimately affect the government's fiscal targets. It also warned that higher fuel costs could force contractors working on government projects to seek contract variations, placing additional pressure on public finances. "Government contracts would be renegotiated if fuel prices reach a certain crisis point where a contractor says, 'When we were negotiating, fuel was around GH¢12, now it's GH¢20.'