Veep justifies hike in petroleum products

Vice President John Mahama

Vice President John Dramani Mahama has stated that it would be unwise to continue subsidizing petroleum products, defending the decision of government to increase prices of petroleum products.

The 15 and 20 percent hike in fuel prices since Thursday was influenced by the government's decision to withdraw subsidies on the products from next year, according to the National Petroleum Authority.

Calls for immediate reduction of the products, so far, seem to have fallen on deaf ears.

During an interaction with the Parliamentary press corps, Vice President Mahama said though the decision by government seems unpopular with Ghanaians it was in their best interest.

Removing subsidies from petroleum products, he said, would enable government save funds for other important infrastructural projects.

“Governments are there to take tough decision and we've taken it,” he remarked, adding: “I'm sure that Ghanaians understand the reasons why we have done that…”