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PRESS STATEMENT
Development Data
June 25, 2012
ILLEGAL FUEL PRICES
CASE: TAXI & TROTRO DRIVERS TO STORM COURT ON WEDNESDAY
Taxi and trotro drivers in Accra and other parts of the
country together with sections of the public are
expected to attend court in their large numbers on
Wednesday, the 27th of June 2012. The large crowd is
expected at the Cocoa Affairs (High Court 16) to witness
the trial of government officials who have refused to
refund about GH¢800 million illegal charges imposed on
fuel consumers in Ghana.
The case is a contempt of court charge brought against
the chief executive of the National Petroleum Authority
Mr Alex Mould and the managing director of Tema Oil
Refinery, Mr Ato Ampaih, following their refusal to
comply with court orders issued last year. On 28th
November 2011, the High Court ordered the NPA and TOR to
refund an estimated GH¢800 million of illegal fuel price
margins disguised as “ex-refinery differential” into the
Consolidated Fund, and also, to remove the illegal
margins from the fuel price build up.
The applicants behind this committal for contempt are Mr
Kwaku Kwarteng, the NPP
Parliamentary Candidate for Obuasi, Mr Abdul Ganiyu of
Tamale, and Development Data, a policy research
organization. Applicants have raised concerns that the
money could be entering people’s pockets because it is
not subject to the financial controls that funds
lodged into the Consolidated Fund are subject to.
The case will be heard at 9.00 am on Wednesday, 27th
June 2012 at Cocoa Affairs, High Court 16.
If convicted, Mr Alex Mould and Mr Ato Ampiah could face
prison terms.
Joshua Quashigah-Sowu
Research Director
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