A renowned economist, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has described the latest fuel price hikes as a mark of an insensitive government.
Dr Bawumia, who is the running mate of the New Patriotic Party's (NPP’s) presidential candidate, said the timing of the price increases for petroleum products could not have been any worse on account of "the difficult economic situation we find ourselves in".
His comments followed the announcement of a nine-per cent fuel price increase.
"I don't think that there is any doubt now that the current NDC government is the most incompetent, uncaring and corrupt we have ever seen," he said to Upper West Regional party officials in Wa last week.
"At a time when people are struggling to power their generators with petrol or diesel to run what remains of their businesses because of the current energy crisis, the government has thrown all reasonable feelings to the dogs and gone ahead to increase fuel prices," he added.
Sad mood
The former deputy governor of the Bank of Ghana was in the Upper West Region to inaugurate some party property and commission nine working committees of the party at the regional level to prosecute their campaign for power in the 2016 general election.
His arrival in town last Saturday evening raised the political temperature in Wa, with motorbike riders and a brass band leading the buzz around the party.
But when he took his turn to address party members yesterday, it was in a sombre mood devoid of the fanfare that had preceded his entry into Wa.
"I feel really sad this morning for the ordinary Ghanaian, the hardworking people who have to endure the insensitive decision to increase fuel prices at this time," he said.
Comparing prices
He said even under the then government of the NPP when the world recorded a record highest price of crude oil at $147 per barrel, "petrol in Ghana was less at GH¢4 per gallon".
But the current circumstances when the price of crude oil on the world market was still dropping, it was strange that petrol was selling at around GH¢15 per gallon in Ghana.
He said the near collapse of the National Health Insurance Scheme and a seeming return of the cash-and-carry regime were indicators of the "mismanagement of the economy."
The NPP's Upper West Regional Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Abdul-Rahman, urged party members to unite in order to capture power via the next elections.
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