Sebastian Freiku, Kumasi
9 July 2009
THE COMMUNICATIONS Director of the New patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Kwaku Kwarteng, says the return of the rampant fuel shortages and the associated long queues at fuel stations that were so common under the previous NDC administration before 2001, which phenomenon is re-emerging under the current NDC administration is most unacceptable.
In a statement in Accra yesterday, Mr. Kwarteng noted that between 2001 and the close of 2008 when the NPP managed this country, fuel shortages and long queues at fuel stations became a thing of the past. "With the return of fuel shortages, many ordinary Ghanaians would suffer since the daily bread of drivers, car-owners and their dependants depend on their ready availability," he said.
According to him, industries that use fuel directly would cut back on production for lack of fuel, causing workers to lose their jobs and their livelihood ands pointed out that the adverse effects of these shortages on the social and economic lives of people are really harsh.
Mr. Kwarteng indicated that it appears that the government does not understand the effect of fuel shortages on the livelihood of ordinary Ghanaians, and that it was increasingly obvious that the NDC administration would not be able to manage the economy and the petroleum sub-sector.
Explaining the basis of his argument, Mr. Kwarteng pointed to the promise of drastic fuel price reductions which never happened, but turned out to be drastic fuel price increases even though the government is still unable to provide fuel for public consumption. "At a crude oil price of US$64 per barrel, we are buying fuel at an average price of GH¢5.00 per gallon.
This compares with an average price of GH¢5.20 per gallon a year ago, when crude oil price was US$147 per barrel", he explained.
On behalf of the NPP, Mr. Kwarteng called on the Mills-led administration to sit up, instead of government and its officials spending the nation's resources frivolously on tea parties and amorous relationships.
He advised the government to channel resources into those things that bring relief to Ghanaians because "Governance is about people".
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