The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has said there is nothing it can do to meet the demands of the taxi drivers in the country.
[contextly_sidebar id=”vCznhpUxsBDV4BscqDIZ86sc6wHNYGrr”] Taxi drivers demonstrated against what they described as hardship imposed on them by the recent fuel price hikes.
The decision to impose a 17.5 tax on petroleum products faced lots of criticism by many Ghanaians who called on the government to reverse the decision.
According to the NPA the imposition will only result in a 3 percent increase in petroleum products.
Speaking in an interview to Citi News, the Head of Public Affairs at the NPA, Yaro Kasambata said the NPA can do little about the situation
He added that “we appreciate that we could have given more reduction than we did when we issued the 2 percent reduction but we have also have to come to this point because we have mentioned to the public and to all our stakeholders,that it is a very difficult part that the NPA has to take knowing prices are dropping at the world market and we have to maintain prices at the pump.”
He disclosed that the move was to prevent the disruption of fuel supplies in the country, adding that “It was a very difficult decision for the NPA but we have no option because the monies owed the Bulk Oil Distribution Companies are monies that have to be paid.”
He further argued that if this debt was not payed that there will be a scarcity in fuel supplies if money owed to the BDC are not paid adding that “ if we don’t pay the debt it means that we are leaving everything to chance,events will unfold under our very eyes especially in this festive season.”
He stressed that the decision taken by the authority and management of NPA was in the interest of the country, adding “we don’t want to leave the consumer and the public to this situation and so we have to take this road.”
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By: Patricia Conteh/citifmonline.com/Ghana