News:
May 20, 2015
The Member of for Juaboso and deputy minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Mintah Kwabena Akando has described as unfortunate the recent explanation by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Petroleum Authourity Mr. Moses Asaga over the authourity’s rationale behind the recent petroleum hike in the country.
According to Mr. Asaga , Ghanaians could afford to purchase USD 60, 000 BMW luxurious cars, which is equivalent to the amount sold in Germany but may protest paying USD 6 per-gallon of fuel price in Germany if such prices were imposed in Ghana.
He further described Ghanaians as being hypocritical in their protest against the recent adjustment in fuel prices, adding that fuel prices Ghana was much affordable compared to other neighbouring countries. The CEO burst out this when he was granted interview by Accra-based Joy News on Multi TV.
Meanwhile, speaking on Adom TV’s Badwam morning show programme Tuesday, the deputy minister condemned the CEO’s utterances and said his words could merely be as a result of the continuous pressure mounted on him and NPA over the recent hike.
In his bid to explain the reason for the recent increment, Hon. Akando said the recent hike was strategically based on the continuous depreciation of the cedi to the other major foreign currencies and the fall in crude oil prices on the world market.
He said government was still liaising with the various transport operators to suspend any increment in transport fees in the country.
However, former MP for Evalue Gwira, Mrs. Catherine Afeku also expressed regrets on Mr. Agalga’s words, adding that he failed in his test to compared the two countries in terms of pricing fuel.
He urged the NPA to rescind on its decision since Ghanaians were currently facing tough times has with recent erratic power supply in the country.
Emmanuel Frimpong Mensah/Ghanamps.gov.gh