Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr. says government should stop blaming the rising cost of fuel prices on Ukraine and Russia impasse.
Over the months, there's been astronomical increases in fuel prices, hence burdening commercial and private drivers and passengers.
The prices currently stand at over 10 cedis and 12 per litre for petrol and diesel respectively.
However, the government blames the Ukraine/Russia war for the fuel price increases.
William Owuraku Aidoo, a Deputy Minister of Energy, has said that the recent surge in prices of petroleum products in the country is due to the conflict in Eastern Europe.
According to a publication on pulse.com.gh, Mr. Aidoo, in an adress before Parliament, stated the government’s hands are tied in intervening because of the deregulatory regime.
“Sanctions and boycotts on petroleum exports from Russia, a major exporter especially to Europe, are reducing availability even further and intensifying upward pressure on fuel prices. Under the current deregulated regime in Ghana where govenrment is not responsible for determining the prices of petroleum products, prices on the global market and the depreciation of the Ghana cedi against the US dollar are passed on directly to the end-consumer,” he said.
Also according to the Deputy National Communications Director of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Asante Yeboah, Ghana is following the sanctions imposed on Russia by some member countries of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the United Nations (UN).
These sanctions, he noted, make it impossible for Ghana to buy fuel directly from Russia which is selling at subsidized prices to other countries.
Speaking on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo", Kwesi Pratt snapped at government's explanation that the Ukraine/Russia war is the cause of the recurrent fuel price increases.
"When you go to Western Europe, it has a fuel crisis which is self-imposed. They have placed sanctions on Russia. They are the ones saying we can't pay you if you bring the fuel which has resulted in this crisis. Other third world countries that are still buying their fuel from Russia, they are buying it at subsidized rate; rate below the price at the Ukrainian war.
"So, if we want the fuel price to reduce, why can other countries buy petrol from Russia at a moderate price but we can't?...Did I tell you to join the sanction regime? If you are a government and America says we should sanction Russia and you know when you sanction Russia, you will suffer but you do it anyway, what are you talking about?...You choose to follow America and you are suffering, then return to tell us to blame Ukriane/Russia war, are you not the one who caused it? Stop saying these things!", he fumed.
He wondered why the Government of Ghana is not buying fuel directly from Russia when the Eastern European nation is selling her gas at subsidized price.
"Any Ghanaian who will be boldly point to himself or herself that the petroleum problem is caused by Ukraine/Russia war doesn't like the government. In fact, then they want to collapse the government. In this age of enlightenment, what country buys fuel at spot market price today? All this Ukraine/Russia brouhaha, what is affecting is the spot market price...So, spare our ears with this Ukraine/Russia war because you are disgracing the government."
He noted that the Akufo-Addo government cannot blame Ukraine and Russia's conflict because the country is purchasing fuel at the spot market price.
As if to describe the government as incompetent, he stressed it is only an "incompetent and inefficient government that will buy fuel at spot market price".
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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PEOPLE LIKE KWASI RELY ON FREEBIES FROM GOVT, SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIS KIDS, GOOD JOBS, FREE FUEL FREE V 8 ( A CAR HE CAN NEVER AFFORD WITH SALES FROM THE INSIGHT) SO HE WILL NEVER SEE ANYTHING GOOD IN NPP GOVT HENCE HIS DESPERATE DESIRE TO SEE THE CORRUPT NDC COME BACK
YOUR HATRED FOR THE PREZ IS MIND-BOGGLING BUT IT WON'T HELP U, U V HATED HIM FOR YEARS BUT IT DID CHANGE HIS DESTINY, WLD V SAID THE SAME IF YOUR PARTY NDC WAS IN POWER? U WOULD V JUSTIFIED THE FUEL HIKES WITH THE SAME UKRAINE/ RUSSIA WAR, BUT THE BATTLE IS STILL THE LORDS THINGS WILL BE BETTER AND U AND YOUR ILK WILL BE ASHAMED
INDEED AFUKU ADDO 'S GOVERNMENT IS WITHOUT ANY DOUBT THE MOST ***barred word*** GOVERNMENT ON THIS EARTH...HE IMPOSED E LEVY ON GHANAIANS BY FORCE LYING TO THEM THIS WAS GOING TO SOLVE ALL THEIR PROBLEMS INSTEAD BUILDS A CATHEDRAL AND TELL A STARVING POPULATION THAT WILL SOLVE THEIR MISERY AND POOR STANDARD OF LIVING, WE RUN A SCHOOL SHIFT SYSTEM BECOS OF INADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE AN ECONOMY IN COMA, UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS AT ITS HIGHEST YET WE HAVE ***barred word*** AND PARTY SOLDIERS DOING COMPARISONS AND PRAISING THIS ***barred word*** GOVERNMENT...GOD SAVE GHANA
I don't see how Russia/Ukraine war should affect Ghana. The NATO nations/ Russia and its partners are spending too much of their GDP on the war (the most money spent on war since world war 2). The USA alone has spent over 60 billion dollars on the war therefore it has affected their economies (inflation). However Ghana is not directly involved in this war in anyway so why should inflation be over 10% in Ghana, whiles the NATO countries/Russia and its partners directly involved in spending in the war have less inflation than Ghana? How much money has Ghana spent on the war for our economy to be affected. Nana Addo is giving flimsy escuse.
Pratt, Ghana is not part of this earth but in another planet. Come and see UK and US and see what we are paying here. ***barred word*** talk.
Some party foot soldiers and communicators think Ghana is the only country affected by the Russia/Ukraine conflict. Go to Kenya and you will realize that inflation is 6% and fuel less than $5. These are serious nations who have managed their economies well and that it is very resilient. NPP government have been praising itself that they have done something never seen before in our history. Ghanaians want solutions but don’t tell us problems we already know. This implies that the economy was not robust as the government used to tout itself since assuming office. ‘We have the men’ and ‘we know how to bring the economy back to life’ not knowing it’s a mere rhetoric. The government should know that it has failed because all the policies implemented cannot withstand external shocks. Who told you Mahama didn’t experience external shocks of some sort and you branded him incompetent. NPP has demonstrated that its super incompetent. Your best couldn’t even match NDC’s failure. NPP at best is an apology of a democracy.
Massa what else do you want to be attributed to this global issue of fuel prices which every country is attributing to the war. If you have another other cause let us know. The average price of fuel probably without the many taxes Ghana has on its fuel is $5 a gallon which works into about 40 Cedis, so what do you expect the government to do massa Pratt? 3y3 mo me bi ngyae kasa huunu no na mo far suggestions mbra, na yen nso we are tired of the EMPTY CRITICISM from your quarter!!! massa y3 br3 wo oooooo tooooooon!!!
This Kwesi Pratt holds a dangerous dislike for the NPP government. Mr Pratt I live in the U.K. The cost of fuel is on the rise weekly. In some areas it’s £2.00 per litre for diesel and a few pence less for petrol. The present projections all point to further increases before the end of the year. Food prices are also on the upwards trend. Food banks are now empty. Some families here rely on charities for food to feed their families. The reason for all these? The Russian and Ukrainian war. Ghana is not insulted against the vagrancies of this conflict. Sir your daughter lives in the U.K. I gather. (no intent to drag the young lady into your dirty politics) I implore you to ask her what people are going through here all because of the Russo/Ukrainian conflict. It’s said you are CPP member, I don’t believe it. You are a closet NDC supporter that can’t wait for John Mahama to come back to power. It’s your personal wish and I don’t think many people will begrudge you for that. I don’t. But please Anokware/Gaskia, is the word you should be reminded of. Ps I am no lover of NPP. Just expressing my independent and honest mind.
Kwesi Pratt your hatred for Nana Addo and the present NPP gov't is too much. Act like a statesman. Your kind of politics is very divisive and spurs hatred