Govt’s Assurance On Petrol Prices Might Backfire – Kwaku Baako

Managing Editor of the New Crusading Guide, Malik Kwaku Baako says the assurance by government that petroleum products will not see any increment in spite of the surge in the prices of crude oil on the world market is not necessary. According to him, things could change if the dynamics continue to shoot up and government will be caught up in a situation where it has no option than to increase the price.

He said the possibility of it backfiring is high because government cannot continue to subsidize if prices of crude oil escalates, adding that this could be used against the government.

Government on Wednesday gave the assurance that petrol prices will not be increased in spite of the surge in the price of crude oil on the world market, currently pegged at $113 per barrel.

Speaking at the launch of a new range of Mobil lubricants for the Allied Oil Company in Accra, Deputy Information Minister, Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwa, said the government would continue to maintain the current price levels to ensure that the increase in the price of crude oil did not have a crippling effect on the public. According to him, government is sensitive to the plight of Ghanaians and would therefore; continue to subsidize the prices of petroleum products to curb any further hardship on the people.

But Malik Kweku Baako, speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana show, said it is time people stopped playing “petro-politics”. According to him, petroleum pricing continue to pose a huge challenge to the country, yet governments and politicians constantly play politics with it just for propaganda purposes, political capital and also for electoral advantage.

“…instead of allowing people with the requisite competence and professional understanding to deal with petroleum issues, we bastardised them and virtually annihilate their intellect and integrity,” he said.