The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has discounted reports that prices of petroleum products in the country are among the steepest in the sub-region.
Hassan Tampuli, Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, also dispelled the notion that the occasional increases in petroleum prices by government - as a means of either recouping subsidy losses and clearing debts, or perhaps even augmenting its resources to fund developmental projects - is a deliberate act.
“Within the West Africa –Sub Regions, comparatively apart from Nigeria, I believe nobody is selling prices of petroleum products lower than Ghana. Nigeria is even so because of its subsidy deductions,” Mr Tampuli disclosed.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace Fm’s ‘Kokrokoo’ Morning Show Tuesday.
For many decades, the price of petroleum products on the market has been a major determinant of prices of goods and services on the market. Fuel prices always have an impact on inflation. There are numerous reports of some companies and households reeling under pressure when petroleum prices skyrocket.
Until mid-2015 when fuel subsidies were reportedly scrapped, it was estimated that the country was using about GH¢2 billion to subsidise prices of petroleum products, ostensibly for the poor.
Notwithstanding the cushioning of prices by government in times of increments by the oil marketing companies (OMCs) and LPG marketing companies (LPGMCs), some remain disgruntled that the price point reduction is not commensurate with world crude oil prices.
Evading Tax
Whiles pointing out that government cannot be held accountable for what happens on the world market, the NPA Boss expressed worry over some illicit trade practices by some industry players who apply under the pretext of exporting petroleum products but end up selling them within Ghana, thereby evading some taxes.
“It is not the fault of NPA or government that petrol prices keeps rising, the point is that we must work within a certain range of price in order that prices of our petroleum products are not too low to trigger its smuggling from the country across borders or into other nearby countries,” he added.
The NPA Chief Executive advised owners of petroleum centre’s to make sure they go properly according to the safety measures required of them by the regulator, since their inability to abide by rules oftentimes results in their being held liable in the event of a catastrophe.
Source: Elizabeth Semiheva Bedi/Peacefmonline.com
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Who is he kidding?? Nigeria- $0.45 Sierra Leone- $0.78 Benin- $0.91 Togo- $0.92 Ghana- $1.05 Ivory Coast- $1.11 Burkina Faso- $1.11 Cameroon- $1.19 Mali- $1.28 Senegal- $1.28
THAT IS TRUE MR
And you could not provide any figures?
NPP will loose the next election because of foo1 like this guy, Go to Ivory Coast, Togo etc Ghana has the most expensive petroleum product in Africa. NPP and Nana fire this 1diot
Mr. "Media NPA Boss". The slightest thing you are on radio. Why must a simple reconciliation problem send you to the media? Oh that is where you find solace...please we are tired of your decision to use the media on the slightest issue. How come you give a company with reconciliation problem up till close of business Friday the 13th of April to respond to a call and then just on Monday 16th April, you are in the news on these same companies? Couldn't you have summoned them to appear before the disciplinary committee to defend themselves with explanation or otherwise? What has happened to your Disciplinary committee? Allow them to work. You are one man and definitely cant do all on your own. Are you now the GRA Boss? It appears you have taken over the work of the GRA..... Allow GRA to carry on with their legitimate work. By your actions you are telling Ghanaians that the GRA isn't doing their work. It's good to sanction when a company is found culpable of wrong doing but don't hide under that to kill the indigenous local companies in the industry. Your threats are too much. it's as if the indigenous local companies are your target. Let the law apply fairly to all. The slightest thing, you are on air threatening to revoke license. Go ahead with your agenda to eliminate some and fixing your "own people". Allow the foreign companies takeover the petroleum industry.Just allow them take over. Power is sweet but it is not for eternity. You will one day exit NPA and you will then know how it feels like being out there. Allow the departmental heads in NPA to take some of the decisions. Even His Excellency the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffu Addo delegates. God bless our homeland Ghana
I listened to bits and pieces of this interview. He mentioned that "apart from Nigeria". But he is WRONG! In Liberia a litre of petrol is $0.93, Sierra Leone $ 0.78, Burkina Faso $ 0.99. In Ghana a litre is $ 1.07.
What a contradiction, the headline says no west African country sells petroleum products less thana Ghana and in his own statement said aprt fron Nigeria. Meaning Nigeria sells petroleum products cheaper than Ghana so why do you mischieviously try to deceive descerning Ghanaians. You can lie your way to power but you can't lie to remain in power. God bless Ghana
sometimes i get sick when i read things like this from the media.something that will favour the mass they have excuse to give. Yesterday i heard the same man on Joy saying the tax component on petroleum product is about 60% in the UK whiles that of Ghana is about 45% so it is ok to still pay more. then i asked myself whether other social interventions in the UK are same as Ghana.Our politicians are only interested in what will benefit them and their families.
These guys think they are smart. They campaigned on energy matters to win power. They now want to change the narrative. We shall use the same template.
Did you now this when you were campaigning for power?.