The opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC] has described President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as “insensitive” after his government increased fuel prices.
The party said “Nana Addo does not care about the worsening plight of Ghanaians” in a statement copied to Peacefmonline.com and signed by its National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi.
“Ghanaians woke up on Monday, 2nd September, 2019 to an announcement of yet another escalation in the prices of petroleum products by the Akufo-Addo Government. This follows a directive by the state regulator, the National Petroleum Authority to Oil Marketing Companies to commence the application of what the Government calls ‘revised Energy Sector Levies’ which were earlier announced by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in his 2019 mid-year Budget Review."
“What this means is that the price of both petrol and diesel have been increased by GHS0.20 per litre. These latest increases translate into the reality that under this callous and clueless Akufo-Addo government, Ghanaians will now have to purchase a litre of petrol for GHS5.39 and a gallon of same for almost GHS25.00 at the pump,” portion of the statement read.
The party however wants the President to reduce the price of fuel - they also said the President is clueless as far as the management of the affairs of this country is concerned.
“We therefore call on insensitive President Akufo-Addo to scrap the new increments in Energy Sector Levies with immediate effect,” the statement said.
Read Below full statement…
RECENT FUEL PRICE HIKES - INSENSITIVE AKUFO-ADDO DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE WORSENING PLIGHT OF GHANAIANS.
Ghanaians woke up on Monday, 2nd September, 2019 to an announcement of yet another escalation in the prices of petroleum products by the Akufo-Addo Government.
This follows a directive by the state regulator, the National Petroleum Authority to Oil Marketing Companies to commence the application of what the Government calls “revised Energy Sector Levies” which were earlier announced by the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in his 2019 mid-year Budget Review.
What this means is that the price of both petrol and diesel have been increased by GHS0.20 per litre. These latest increases translate into the reality that under this callous and clueless Akufo-Addo government, Ghanaians will now have to purchase a litre of petrol for GHS5.39 and a gallon of same for almost GHS25.00 at the pump.
A noteworthy reminder is the fact that the price of both petrol and diesel was GHS3.6 per litre in January 2017 when President Akufo-Addo and his deceitful New Patriotic Party took office. Today, we are talking about a litre of petrol selling at GHS5.39, an increment of about 50% in just two and half years.
There is no doubt that this development will result in a negative ripple effect on the prices of goods and services and further deepen the already dire economic straits of the Ghanaian people.
It is important to state that any discussion of fuel price hikes at this material moment cannot be divorced from the bad and insensitive policies of President Akufo-Addo. Specifically, the latest escalation in fuel prices is directly linked to the sharp increase in Energy Sector Levies (ESLA) by the Akufo-Addo government in the 2019 Mid-Year Budget Review Statement.
What is even sadder, is the fact that ESLA which was introduced by the erstwhile Mahama/NDC regime to clear legacy debts in the energy sector was hypocritically described by President Akufo-Addo and the NPP then in opposition as nuisance and killer taxes, with a promise to scrap it when elected.
However, upon assuming office, President Akufo-Addo has not only maintained ESLA, but has actually extended its duration and further set a special purpose vehicle with it to raise five and seven-year bonds.
Aside from this fact is the profligate misapplication and misuse of revenues accruing from ESLA by this government. Since 2017, ESLA proceeds have been mismanaged, sometimes in questionable manner. In 2017 alone for example, about GHS600 million of ESLA proceeds was used to pay pension arrears, whilst in 2018, over GHS800 million could not be accounted for.
Also, it is worth noting that the Akufo-Addo government has realized more revenue from the petroleum sector than any other government in Ghana’s history.
In terms of oil revenue alone, this government in 2017 and 2018 accrued GHS2.3 billion and GHS4.5 billion respectively, with a projected GHS6 billion for 2019, all as a result of the huge investments made by the erstwhile Mahama/NDC administration in the oil and gas sector. Obviously, with this amount of revenue coming from oil production alone, and given the reckless mismanagement of ESLA proceeds by the Akufo-Addo government, there is absolutely no justification for any increase in Energy Sector Levies.
Furthermore, the NDC holds the view that until the marauding monster of corruption that this Akufo-Addo government is using to destroy Ghana is brought under control, any exercise of increasing taxes in order to finance the insatiable hunger of the bloated “elephant-size” Akufo-Addo government is untenable.
As we speak, Tax evasion by government officials continues to be rife under Akufo-Addo according to staff of the Ghana Revenue Authority, whilst the phenomenon of fuel fraud continues unabated. Yet, the suffering masses are being called upon to pay more by way of fuel prices in order to finance the corrupt, wasteful and ostentatious expenditure which has become the stock in trade of this government. This is unacceptable!
Again, inextricably linked to the the issue of fuel price hikes is the continuous nosedive of our currency against other major trading currencies.
Today, the Ghanaian Cedi is trading at almost GH5.50 to the United States dollar. If we may ask, where is Dr. Bawumia, the economic wizard of the NPP, and what has happened to his magic wand to arrest the Dollar?
The Akufo-Addo government appears to be clueless as far as the management of the affairs of this country is concerned. Times are truly hard for the Ghanaian. Our economy is on a slippery slope down the abyss, but President Akufo-Addo cares little about his pledge to make life better for our people.
A government that truly cares about its people will not be increasing fuel prices at a time when the citizenry are already experiencing excruciating hardships.
We therefore call on insensitive President Akufo-Addo to scrap the new increments in Energy Sector Levies with immediate effect.
Signed
Comrade Sammy Gyamfi
(National Communication Officer)
Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash
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where were you when NDC was doing the same thing? you didn't have the brains to tell them to reduce the price? you people think you can take us for granted right? shame on you clueless beings. The time is approaching when neither NDC nor NPP can take the electorates for granted.
This Comrade Sammy Gyamfi boy must be removed by the NDC otherwise they will remain in opposition for a very very long time..... I remember those days anytime (P)NDCs Kwasi Botcwey was going to read his budget we all panic because fuel prices will be going up......
This loud-mouthed NDC boy must be brought to book. He must be checked, We know where to find him - 0244259490
FULLLS WHY DON'T YOU REDUCE IT YOURSELF IF YOU HAVE THE POWER OR TELL THE INCOMPETENT ONE, MAHAMA TO REDUCE IT. FULLLLLS, PARTY OF CRIMINALS, CREATE, LOOK AND SHARE CERTIFIED STEALERS.
You are not sorry.
Ndc find work to do and pay tax yo get reduced petrol price nkwase*afuo you tslk from your asse*s no sense no thinking ndc pack kritical thinkers! and you think with this your behavior you will get power npp will be the most st*upid in the whole world to give you power because the good people of Ghana will never vote ndc to power! you ndc think you are in power? if you have power go and reduce it if Ghana belongs to you match to the Jubilee house and tell them this country has been sold to you and this is what you want if you are real men ! those at the Jubilee house are waiting for you! Go there and stop your rantings if you are cowards. 54% of Ghanaians voted for them to take care of their resources when you ndc were in power if Ghanaians liked you your defeat wouldn't be that huge, find solution to how you can even get 200,000 out of the over 1 million for us to know you are making progress because it will be very difficult for you to even get 50,000 out of that number! never underestimate the intelligence of Ghanaians your john mahama is not their taste he hasn't shown any wisdom, no kritical thinking in opposition nkwas*ea akeka nkoaa! how could you know your strength if you sow nurses uniforms for seamstresses and kayayees to praise you when down south the nursing colleges appreciate the restoration of their allowances and this thing was president before? ndc lack the men how can you send a general who had been defeated unprecedented to a battlefield again? when Buffalo soldier Gen. Arnold Quainoo was chased in Liberia immediately President Rawlings recalled him to Ghana only this ndc that send a defeated president back to the battle fields to face a sophisticated enemy you couldn't defeat with all the armoury at your disposal how can you defeat him when he is sophisticated with digital ideas! moawi gya ! ndc will never come back to power .
No government in Ghana will ever reduce petrol. We live in a country where about 87% of work force work in the "informal sector",and petrol (fuel) prices is the only way to get everybody to pay tax. Petrol is expensive in Ghana because that is the only way we get money to fund our budget. It doesn't matter who you vote for, petrol will never be cheap in Ghana. In developed countries they have a more accountable way of ensuring everyone pays tax so they can even make petrol (fuel) free and still be able to fund their budget but not here in Ghana.
Please ooo please, why is this guy always disgracing us. Ghanaians are not dumb as some of you think they are. Most electorate have live through elections from 1992 to date. Ata miles of blessed memory said he will reduce price and later it was increase. I remember the boards we took around telling people we will reduce but it was increased after being voted into power. Everyone knows by the now the computation of the petrol prices. Please let us use something else to win vote but not this cheap way. FROM AN NDC MEMBER
Do you remember that when fuel price was going down internationally during your era your government was rather increasing the price in Ghana? Anyway your candidate say were have short memory hence you have been affected concert!!!
Aboabeast go and reduce it yourself daawa konko