The Minority spokesperson on Energy, KT Hammond has said the Kufuor-led administration governed Ghana successfully for eight years without any oil revenue.<\/p>\n
He stated that the oil revenue the nation is enjoying \u201cis actually a bonus given us by the Almighty God,\u201d adding that \u201cour country\u2019s finances has never come through oil production.\u201d<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”fBtAkRinlDpVjWMCjZgdkW8lJMjQcv4p”]He stressed that the eight year-administration of former President John Kufuor was without the benefit of oil production, \u201cand in all that the NPP [New Patriotic Party] administration run this country to the glory of God\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Deputy Energy Minister was therefore convinced that the Mahama-led government can run the affairs of the nation without relying heavily on oil revenue if it \u201cget its priorities right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe could still run this country to the glory of God without this benefit from the oil,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
In 2007, through the massive support of the NPP government, Ghana discovered crude oil in commercial quantities but production of the country\u2019s first commercial oil began in 2010 under the John Mills-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.<\/p>\n
In an interview on Eyewitness News<\/strong> on Wednesday, KT Hammond, was of the opinion that with \u00a0the benefit of oil revenue and the fall of crude oil on the world market is falling, it only makes economic sense for the government to reduce petroleum prices.<\/p>\n He said it is a flimsy excuse for the government to say a further reduction in petroleum prices will affect the projected income of the government.<\/p>\n According to him, Ghana is a net importer \u201cand so by that, we are benefiting from the reduced prices on the international market.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow much do we produce anyway and how much do we sell?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n KT Hammond stressed that government\u2019s refusal to effect a further reduction in the prices of petroleum products \u201cis just ripping the good people of Ghana off. It is not fair.\u201d<\/p>\n He said the NPP had little opportunities as compared to the NDC saying, \u201cwe operated within a very short window of opportunity. This government has had too much but the difference is so dramatic.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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