The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer, President John Mahama, has no plans to reduce the price of petroleum products ahead of the 2016 elections.
This is according to the Campaign Coordinator of the NDC’s 2016 Campaign, Kofi Adams, who denied assertions by the New Patriotic Party (NPP), that President Mahama is set to reduce prices of petroleum products in a desperate move to remain in office.
While speaking to students of the Sunyani Polytechnic over the weekend, the NPP Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, alleged that President Mahama would soon announce the reduction.
But Mr. Kofi Adams, told Citi News the opposition was merely using the issue to keep their their candidate in the news cycle, as he explained that, a President could not regulate fuel prices.
“How do we fix fuel prices in this country again? Are we not living in a deregulating situation? So how does Mahama now come and announce fuel prices in a deregulated market,” he retorted.
“Presidents don’t reduce taxes. That is supposed to be Parliament; because it is parliament that approves it. You are aware that Parliament has gone on recess. Next time Parliament is going to come back is after the elections.”
Mr. Adams also noted that, government’s advanced budget for the first quarter of 2017 did not factor in a reduction in petroleum prices.
“The Finance Minister just presented budget estimates for the first quarter of next year. He gave no such indication, and so when their candidate is not flying, their candidate is being rejected then they want to continue trending on lies.”
There was widespread criticism towards government after the passage of the Energy Sector Levy by Parliament in December 2015, which led to fuel prices going up by between 22 percent and 27 percent.
The criticism mainly stemmed from the fact that, the price of fuel on the international market was lower at the time.
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana