Accra: A former Municipal Chief Executive for the Suame Municipal Assembly, Maxwell Ofosu Boakye, has questioned whether it would be fair for critics to describe President John Dramani Mahama as 'insensitive' over rising fuel prices, similar to criticisms faced by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his tenure.
According to Ghana Web, Maxwell Ofosu Boakye, in an interview on JoyNews, emphasized that fuel pricing is largely determined by global market conditions and should not be politicized. He referenced President Mahama's State of the Nation Address, where Shell prices were used as a benchmark, arguing that it is fair to use the same standard for comparison.
Boakye highlighted that fuel prices at the pumps were not uniformly high when the previous administration left office, with diesel prices ranging between GHS13 and GHS14. He asserted that it is only fair to compare prices using the same benchmark cited by President Mahama.
He also stressed that the governing National Democratic Congress had made commitments regarding the cost of living and fuel prices during the 2024 Election campaign and should be held accountable. He urged politicians to refrain from politicizing fuel prices, as international market forces primarily influence them.
Boakye pointed out that former President Akufo-Addo faced similar criticisms when diesel prices were around GHS15 per litre, and questioned whether it would be right to label President Mahama as insensitive when current prices are dictated by international market conditions. He concluded by cautioning against using fuel prices as a political tool, emphasizing the role of external factors in determining petroleum prices in Ghana.