Gov't not under pressure to remove subsidies - Ayariga

Government says it is not under pressure from any quarters to increase fuel prices or remove subsidies.

Some critics suspect that government’s recent assertion that the low price of petroleum products in Ghana is worsening fuel smuggling to neighbouring countries, could be part of a grand scheme to prepare the minds of Ghanaians for price hikes.

The National Security says its counter operations to foil the smuggling along Ghana’s borders have yielded some results.

Also, the Central Bank has waded into the subsidy debate by pushing for its removal. The National Petroleum Authority was the first to make that demand.

Information and Media Relations Minister, Mahama Ayariga, in an interview with XYZ News said the current debate is not part of any scheme to foist fuel price increases on Ghanaians.

“It is not any orchestrated plan to increase fuel prices as it is being misrepresented. I think that the security have become more alert as a result of the information that they are also gathering.

“For government, it is just a way of managing our economy prudently, it is not about being under anybody,” Mahama Ayariga said.