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National Democratic Congress (NDC) Greater Accra Regional Chairman, Joseph Kobina Ade Coker, has pointed out commonsensical reasons why the current increase in transportation fares is a genuine national challenge and not faultiness that is blamable on President Mahama. Yesterday, on the morning show programme on UTV, an Accra-based television station, Ade Coker pinned the New Patriotic Party's Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover and his mischief to the background, with simple explanation of the factors that have constrained the new increase. To the appreciation of viewers, the NDC Chairman explained that some GH�84 million that government was using to subsidize petroleum prices was unsustainable. If government were to keep pumping that amount of money into the subvention of fuel every two weeks, he said, the country would only be rushing down the path of economic suicide. It is public knowledge that in spite of the austerity that has been brought on Ghanaians by the recent recurrent increases in fuel prices, Ghana has the cheapest petroleum cost in West Africa. In fact, fuel is comparatively so cheap in Ghana that shrewd and criminal-minded businessmen actually smuggle fuel from the country to sell at higher prices in neighbouring countries after they have bought it cheap in the country. Ade Coker's explanation drew appreciative comments from viewers and exposed the mischief of Titus Glover. The NPP MP had sought to do the NPP's well-known propagandist somersaults again, by claiming that the fuel price increase was blamable on President Mahama. Even though he was well aware of the fact that government was spending a whopping GH�84 million on fuel subvention every two weeks, the Tema East NPP MP thought it was the fault of John Mahama that the unsustainable subvention had to be removed. Ade Coker however exposed his mischief, explaining to the commendation of callers-in that the maintenance of the subvention meant government forfeiting the investment of such huge amounts into other sectors. The NDC Greater Accra Regional Chairman also lamented that the country's current economic challenges partly stem from dishonesty on the part of some Ghanaians. Out of 25 million Ghanaians, he said only about 4 million paid taxes. About 70% of government's revenue is spent on paying public sector salaries, while the lack of manufacturing base means the country imports everything, from automobiles to tooth-pick. Thankfully, unlike former President Kufour, who tip-toed round the problem of the lack of manufacturing base, President Mahama announced in his last state of the nation address that plans were afoot to establish many factories including two sugar factories and a jute factory.