Former Member of Parliament for Sekondi and legal practitioner Andrew Agyapa-Mercer has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of engaging in what he describes as “deceitful politics,” arguing that the party’s current justification for rising fuel prices contradicts positions it held while in opposition.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show on Tuesday, 31 March, he questioned why global conflicts thousands of kilometres away are now being cited as reasons for increases in fuel prices in Ghana.
“Anytime this conversation comes up, I want to start by asking why bombs flying 7,000 kilometres away are having an impact on our fuel prices here in Ghana,” he said.
“I say so not because I do not know the reality, but purely to expose the hypocrisy of the NDC when they were in opposition.”
Mr Agyapa-Mercer referenced the war between Russia and Ukraine, which disrupted global supply chains and contributed to a surge in crude oil prices to about $120 per barrel during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo. He noted that at the time, the NDC dismissed the argument that external shocks could significantly affect Ghana’s economy.
“That is exactly what the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has done,” he said, drawing parallels between past and present global crises.
He stressed, however, that Ghana operates within a global economic system where fuel prices are determined by international market forces rather than domestic policy alone.
“The reality is that we operate within a global environment where these commodities are priced not by the government of Ghana, but by the market,” he explained. “If there are disruptions in the supply chain, it necessarily affects prices, and when it does, increases become unavoidable.”
Mr. Agyapa-Mercer further pointed out that fuel imports into Ghana are handled by private companies, not the government, adding that even a fully operational domestic refinery would still depend on crude oil purchased at prevailing global prices.
“The fuel we import does not belong to the government of Ghana. It is private companies that import it. Even if our refinery were working, it would still have to buy crude at market prices, process it, and sell,” he said.
He argued that recent developments have exposed inconsistencies in the NDC’s earlier criticisms, suggesting that the party is now relying on similar explanations it once rejected.
“The kinds of things they said, now the chicken has come home to roost,” he stated. “They are telling us that prices are going up because of the Israel–Iran conflict, which is also 7,000 kilometres away. How does that work?”
“For me, Ghanaians have seen their hypocrisy, the kind of deceitful politics they used to gain power, and now we are where we are,” he added.
His comments follow escalating military exchanges involving Israel, Iran, and the United States, which have heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation. Amid the strikes and counterstrikes, the Strait of Hormuz—one of the world’s most important shipping routes for global oil transit—has been shut, raising concerns about disruptions to international energy supplies.
However, some Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have already begun increasing pump prices ahead of the scheduled 1 April 2026 adjustments under the Price Deregulation Policy.
One of the biggest players in the industry, GOIL, announced in a social media post that petrol has increased from GH¢12.24 to GH¢13.30 per litre, while diesel has risen from GH¢15.69 to GH¢17.10 per litre.
The company said the increase is influenced by the new price floor announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on 30 March 2026, even though the official adjustment window runs from 1 to 15 April 2026.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com