Ex-Deputy Minister accused government of defrauding
Ghanaians
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Ex-Deputy Minister of Energy in the erstwhile Kufuor regime,
K.T. Hammond has accused government of defrauding Ghanaians
with the recent 30 per cent hike in fuel prices.
He disclosed that the government is fraudulently charging
over GH¢1.00 on each gallon of petrol sold to consumers.
Mr. Hammond, who is the sitting Member of Parliament for
Asokwa-Adansi in the Ashanti Region produced as evidence to
the media, a letter signed by the acting boss of the
National Petroleum Authority, Alex Mould, asking for the
collection and payment of the ex-refinery differential
revenue accrued on the sale of the fuel into two separate
accounts. (Accounts names withheld).
The June 5, 2009 letter, headlined “REVISION OF DOMESTIC AND
EXPORT PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PRICES”, a copy of which was made
available to media, had the logo of the NPA boldly printed
on it, but did not indicate any addressee.
It is referenced DF 181/249/01 and signed by Alex Mould.
The letter further states “In respect of the negative
ex-refinery differentials, we should be grateful if you
would submit your under-recovery claims accordingly.”
This letter, Mr. Hammond insists confirms his earlier
suspicion of fraud perpetrated by the government on the
people.
He did not understand why the then New Patriotic Party (NPP)
government sold a gallon of petrol at GH¢5.20 when crude oil
was selling at the international market at $116 per barrel,
but under the NDC government and with an international crude
oil price of $69 per barrel, the same gallon of petrol is
sold at GH¢5.00.
The missing link, Mr. Hammond claimed was in the ex-refinery
differential revenue which government sources, he again
alleged, have failed to provide answers to.
He said the minority will pursue the matter to its logical
conclusion.
An insider at the NPA told the Ghanadot that, the minister
will address a press very soon to respond to the allegations
leveled against the authority.
Ghanadot
