Mr Simon Abingya, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, said on Friday that government's decision not to increase the prices of petroleum products is not for any political consideration.
Rather, it is an indication of government's sensitivity to the plight of the ordinary people. Mr Abingya was speaking at a meeting with representatives of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Trades Union Congress (TUC) and other recognised labour unions in the Upper East region at Bolgatanga.
Mr Abingya, who is also the member of parliament for Bolgatanga central, pointed out that considering the current hike in the price of crude oil on the world market, the logical step would have been for government to effect a corresponding increase in the local prices.
He expressed regret about attempts by some sections of the public to politicise the issue of fuel shortages saying, "although they see what is happening even in developed countries, some still want to portray the situation here as the fault of government." Mr Abingya noted that in view of the relatively cheaper cost of fuel in the country, Ghanaians and foreigners alike are smuggling the commodity into neighbouring countries, thus nullifying government's intention to make petroleum products available for the use of every citizen.
Mr Abingya tasked unionised labour in the region to get involved in the monitoring of sales of fuel in the area.
He described as paradoxical, the rampant shortages of petroleum products in the Bolgatanga township, where a fuel depot with a capacity of 6.5 million litres of petrol, diesel, kerosene and liquefied gas, has been sited. "It is hard to understand when the local filling station managers complain of scarcity, yet you go and find out that the depot is full of product".
The Deputy Minister noted that such attitude was employed deliberately by the dealers to create artificial shortages so they could sell the product at exorbitant prices to the people. Mr Abingya urged district chief executives, assembly members and workers to step up vigilance at the filling stations and to question the movement of large quantities of fuel particularly in the border areas.
On his contributions to the development of his constituency so far, the MP disclosed that he has provided a dam for the Dazongo community near Bolgatanga at a cost of 60 million cedis from his share of the MP's common fund.
He also mentioned the provision of hand-dug wells valued at 650,000 cedis for Bukere community of Bolgatanga, the establishment of eleven craft centres, built with the assistance of the Dutch Embassy in various parts of the constituency at a cost of 40 million cedis.
The provision of a corn ill, roofing sheets and a motorcycle for the 31st December Women's bakery in Bolgatanga are the other areas of contribution towards the welfare of his constituents.
On behalf of organised labour in the region, Alhaji Abdulai Bawa, regional TUC secretary, thanked Mr Abingya for the interaction, and said the forum had given workers the opportunity to seek clarification on pertinent issues.
He appealed to the Deputy Minister to convey to government, the demand by workers for an increase in salaries based on prevailing market realities.
