The chief executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr. Moses Asaga has mounted a robust defence of the Authority’s decision to increase fuel prices by nine percent.
He said the increases were to prevent another problematic build-up of subsidies which may affect the ability of bulk oil distribution companies to bring in petroleum products.
Mr. Asaga accused opposition leader Nana Akufo-Addo of dishonesty in his criticism of the increases.
Following the announcement of new prices for petroleum products Sunday, Mr. Akufo-Addo said government was insensitive to the plight of ordinary Ghanaians .
For him, the increases could not be justified on the face of a crippling power crisis which is collapsing businesses and lead to job losses.
But Mr. Asaga disagreed, saying the price of fuel was far higher in some other countries especially Germany where Ghana imports its petroleum products from.
He said the New Patriotic Party flagbearer – who is currently in Germany from where he criticized the government for the fuel price adjustment – ought to have known that it costs more to buy a gallon of petrol in that country than in Ghana.
According to the former Nabdam legislator, a gallon of petrol in Germany costs $6.48, compared to $3.3 in Ghana.
“In Germany where Nana Akufo-Addo was yesterday, a gallon of petrol is $6.48; in Ghana today, a gallon of petrol is $3.3; in UK last night a gallon of petrol was $7.68…and therefore if we are doing $3, 30 cents a gallon and Amsterdam where were import [our products] from is doing $6.48 per gallon, I think that people shouldn’t take us out as if we are insensitive,” he said.
Mr. Asaga wondered why the Ghanaians who were listening to NPP flagbearer didn’t draw his attention to the fact they pay more for fuel in Germany compared to their compatriots back home in Ghana.
“There is a lot of intellectual dishonesty,” he stressed.
More soon.
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