The new prices of petroleum products, which went up between 15 and 20 percent, took effect today, Thursday 29 December, 2011.
The increases according to the National Petroleum Authority are influenced by the government’s decision to withdraw subsidies on the products from next year. The increase is thus expected to reflect the current world price of about $107 dollars.
But AFAG says the recent hikes show how incompetent the government is. In a statement signed by some leading member s of AFAG, the group said:
“The price increase is not justified and that the only alternative for us in AFAG and Ghanaians at large in this call is for Government and the NPA, to as a matter of urgency withdraw the increases in prices on all petroleum products else AFAG would take the necessary action to fight for the good course of Ghanaians.”
The group said, the NDC government seems to make it a habit of increasing fuel prices during the festive season as was the case on January 3, 2011.
“Obviously, times are bad for the ordinary Ghanaian. The failure to pay December salaries of public sector workers had already dampened the Christmas celebration and to hit the nation with this price hikes smacks of hypocrisy and the so called ‘better Ghana agenda’ of the NDC Government led by Professor Mills.”
According to the statement, the excuse that the increase is a response to the rise in international crude price is untenable. They want government to explain what happened to the policy of hedging as well as the anticipated GHS1.2billion from the oil revenue as stated in the mid-year review of the 2011 budget statement.
Read the full statement below
Obviously, times are bad for the ordinary Ghanaian. The failure to pay December salaries of public sector workers had already dampened the Christmas celebration and to hit the nation with this price hikes smacks of hypocrisy and the so called ‘better Ghana agenda’ of the NDC Government led by Professor Mills.
It is interesting to note that, the NDC government is hell bent to cause a stir and ‘de-merry’ the Christmas of Ghanaians. This has certainly become a routine. Last year, two(2) days after the new year celebration,ie3rd of January,2011,we were greeted with news of 30% price hikes in petroleum prices and the reason given was that, there is a rise in international crude price and TOR debt.
Again, in the year christened ‘Action’, the announcement of the 15 – 30% petroleum price hike has come as early as anticipated. It is obvious that, the did not hear Nationwide complains of hard times especially in the yuletide.
But in all these torrid times, one thing which is very striking and worthy of note in the same petroleum saga, is about the contrary stance of Government and the NPA to increase the prices of petroleum product as against an Accra High court order presided over by Justice Patrick Baayeh on November 28th2011, compelling the NPA to reduce the prices of petroleum products on account of illegal smuggling of Gh1.00 cedis in the price build-up.
We are indeed in interesting times in our country as far as the management and the administration of the petroleum sector is concerned. We in AFAG would like the NDC Government and the NPA to respond to these nagging questions;
1. If in 2007/8, at an international crude oil price of $147/barrel, petrol was less than GHC6.00, how come at $102/barrel, petrol is being sold at GHC8.00.
2. What happened with the hedging? Ghana requires an answer.
3. What has happened to the anticipated over GHC1.2billion accrued from the oil revenue as stated in the mid-year review of the 2011 budget statement?
4. What plans are being pursued to refine our own oil to do away with the transportation cost in the price build up?
THIS IS OUR RESOLVE
The price increase is not justified and that the only alternative for us in AFAG and Ghanaians at large in this call is for Government and the NPA, to as a matter of urgency withdraw the increases in prices on all petroleum products else AFAG would take the necessary action to fight for the good course of Ghanaians.
SIGNED
ARNOLD BOATENG……………0244294754
HON JAMES APPEATU ANKRA……0244375034
OPOKU DAVIS………………0244871593
JOYCE ZEMPARE…………….0264232543
ABU RAMADAN………………0244570006
BRIGHT ACHEAMPONG…………0545230621