\u201cFor now, we are worried about the constitutionality of it. It is for NPA to set the prices, it is not GOIL or the OMCs [Oil Marketing Companies]\u2026We would have to go to court to stop this government from proceeding with this illegality. It is wrong and we will not allow it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”nqrF6omGeJzFMjhCG1dDIlvhPX7kOHtA”]The OMCs have begun determining the prices of petroleum products<\/a><\/strong><\/span> as a result of steps being taken by the NPA to deregulate the petroleum sector.<\/p>\n Although the NPA has said it will strictly monitor the activities of the OMCs and BDCs, consumers have expressed worry<\/a><\/strong><\/span> about the new development which they say is likely to result in high pricing of the products.<\/p>\n KT Hammond bemoaned the government\u2019s appetite for engaging in illegalities.<\/p>\n \u201cThe NDC [National Democratic Congress]; illegality is in their DNA! They simply cannot divorce themselves from acts of unlawfulness. It is completely wrong!\u201d he fumed.<\/p>\n The former Deputy Energy Minister argued that the new pricing regime\u00a0is confusing and the NPA must come to Parliament to seek approval before relegating its duties to the OMCs.<\/p>\n \u201cMy understanding was that they were going to take it through Parliament and seek to review whatever there is to review in the NPA Act of 2005 and more importantly, the LI\u2026The LI gives NPA the functions of setting out the formality and the modality, what the price is going to be,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n KT Hammond stressed that the NPA does not have the authority \u201cto shirk their responsibility and ask the OMCs to do that. It is wrong, it is illegal!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf they are going to go ahead and whether it is proper for deregulation to proceed\u2026if it is right or wrong, it will be a matter to be debated in a different forum.\u201d<\/p>\n Initial confusion will normalize<\/strong><\/p>\n The Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Moses Asaga also on the Citi Breakfast Show indicated that the ongoing deregulation \u201conly means prices will be going up and down\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He admitted that at the initial stages, the OMCs will face challenges in pricing their products while consumers will also be filled with uncertainties, but he was quick to add that the situation will normalize within a week or two.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are just beginning the practice so we know that there will be a few difficulties and confusion in people\u2019s minds but I believe that going deep into the week, people will be able to find tuning and in the next two weeks, people will continue to find tune but today, what is likely to happen is that a lot of Oil Marketing Companies may be stranded in the sense that they may still be displaying old prices.\u201d<\/p>\n Nobody can win petroleum subsidy argument<\/strong><\/p>\n Moses Asaga was of the view that the argument on petroleum subsidy can never be won by any one.<\/p>\n According to him, what the government is presently doing is \u201cvery practical.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are saying that government cannot sustain subsidies, therefore, we should try and liberalize the price so that the investor can feel more confident to bring in petroleum products so that there will be uninterrupted supply of petroleum products at moderate prices so that we can all enjoy our business and be able to move around,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cAny other talk about the theory of subsidy and taxation is a thing of the past\u2026There will still be uniform petroleum pricing,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com.\/Ghana![\"Moses](\"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/asaga_forum.jpg\")
<\/a>
\nFollow @ osamidan<\/a>
\n