Why Mills Can’t Reduce Fuel Price

…Gov’t Risks $1bn Loss According to World Bank Study Political groupings calling for the reduction of fuel and allied petroleum product prices will wake up to the grim realization today that, until the global price for the commodity drops to between $29 and $32 per barrel, government cannot reduce prices.

At the tentative figure of $95 per barrel at the present time and a gallon of petrol selling at 6 cedis 90 pesewas, two of the groupings at the heart of the reduction push game, ALLIANCE FOR ACCOUNTABLE GOVERNANCE (AFAG) and the COMMITTEE FOR JOINT ACTION (CJA) may have to revise their notes and by extension, their requests.

According to a World Bank study on Ghana, Columbia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, official misuse of fuel alone often throws the national economies of the said countries out of gear. The study tagged EVALUATING FISCAL & SOCIAL COSTS OF INCREASES IN DOMESTIC FUEL PRICES and authored by David Coady and David Newhouse established beyond doubt that, the intended reliefs and benefits for intended vulnerable target groups in a bid to assuage their overall sufferings, do not get to them.

THE SUN learnt that going by the mess by officialdom and the inability to check the abuse that goes on at the present time, government risks losing a whooping $1billion if indeed it goes on ahead to reduce the commodity, while it watches the hell go on.

According to the study, public transportation never really consumed a major chunk of the overall fuel consumption in the mentioned countries, but rather the wayward official use of the product which in most cases go unchecked. THE SUN scanned through the study and discovered that quite apart from the need for the global price dropping by a huge percentage in order for government to honour its pre-election pledge, it ought to gather the political will to play the strict disciplinarian by zeroing in on the quantum of usage as well as define who, indeed, is best qualified to draw free fuel.

THE SUN can state today that the nation’s energy chiefs import approximately 14 million barrels per month, which is shared by the Volta River Authority (VRA) on two million and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) also on 12 million.

THE SUN has learned that the VRA uses its bulk to fire the Aboadze Thermal Plant, while TOR, which as government as its majority consumer gulps down between 30 and 40 per cent of the overall fuel consumption. However with the oil find quite lately, it is unclear if indeed any respite is about to come anytime soon, judging by political utterances demanding of the expectant populace not to expect a breather too soon.

Interestingly even though ideologically poles apart, elements in both AFAG and CJA continue to pressurize government to come down from above with the recent upward adjustment of 30 per cent, that has seen prices for goods and services rise to the nostrils of the heavens.

However with the debate on the highly contestable TOR DEBT still raging among politicians of the different divide, it appears slashing fuel prices by even a whisker would be a tall mountain for government to climb, despite the oil-find in commercial quantities. THE SUN

JULIE JUU WANTS NANA BOSOMPRA’S PROPERTY

Ghana’s famous actress of Cantata fame Abena Achiaa aka Julie Juu has clasped her hands waiting to see Nana Owusu Akyem, family head of her late husband Nana Bosompra II, to honour court’s orders on February 17, 2011. It will be recalled that, an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice M. Iddrisu, ordered the abusuapanin to pay an amount of GH¢1.800 to Julie Juu, following an application of contempt of court she filed against the funeral committee of her late husband, headed by Nana Owusu Akyem.

Julie Juu had alleged that, Grace Omaboe aka Maame Dokono, David Dontoh and Amankwaah Ampofo had conspired with the abusuapanin to stop her from performing widowhood rites at her late husband’s funeral.

As a result, they planned the burial without the knowledge of the legitimate wife, Julie Juu. Therefore, she placed an injunction on the body of the late movie director and producer, Nana Bosompra II, only for abusuapanin Nana Akyem and the Funeral Committee to defy court’s orders and get along with Bosompra’s burial.

The prolific actress told THE SUN that, she and her late husband had been in marriage for some years now until death tore them apart. She said as custom demanded, there should be a one-week celebration after which they would have decided on the date for the burial.

She said the family members did not agree with the tradition since it was apparent they did not practice it in their family. Eventually, she was entrusted with the one-week celebration. Julie Juu said, she invited her friends and colleagues Maame Dokono, David Dontoh and Amankwaah Ampofo to assist her on the occasion.

Julie Juu stated that, having enjoyed all the freebies she served her supposed friends, they had a secret meeting with the abusuapanin to eject her from the funeral. She said eventually, they connived with the abusuapanin to let Christiana Clement, former wife of the deceased, who had been divorced for over 30 years, perform the widowhood rites.

Julie Juu has debunked Daily Guide’s publication on 18th January, 2011 page three, captioned “Maame Dokono Freed”. She said there is no iota of truth in that caption. “Maame Dokono and her colleagues were in support of the abusuapanin and the court ordered him to pay GH¢1,800, so how on earth has she been FREED,” Julie Juu asked?

Therefore, she is waiting patiently to meet the abusuapanin on February 17, 2011 in court to possess what rightfully belongs to her. THE SUN