CJA’S Meeting With President

The decision to meet with President John Evans Atta Mills was taken at a regular meeting of the Committee for Joint Action (CJA) soon after the recent 30 per cent increase in fuel prices were announced.

That meeting was characterized by shock and disbelief as most members of the Committee could not reconcile the action with pledges which had been made by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its Presidential Candidate in the Campaign for the 2008 elections.

A similar situation had cropped up when the Government had announced its first increase in fuel prices and at the time the CJA took very swift action by instantly and vehemently condemning the price increase. This time the shock was almost paralyzing because a couple of days earlier it had been rumoured that fuel price increases would go up by 15 per cent. Even that was worrying but the 30 per cent price increase was completely unexpected.

The significant thing about this meeting was that the members present came from almost all the major political parties excepting only the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was more adequately represented, there were elements from the PNC and the CPP as well as some leaders of the National Reform Party (NRP) in this crucial meeting.

It was perhaps also significant to mention that Kwesi Pratt, Jnr, Ama Benyiwa-Doe and Emelia Arthur who led the charge against the Kufuor administration when it increased fuel price were absent.

A number of important decisions were taken at this crucial meeting. The meeting took the view that the fuel price increases ought to be roundly condemned and that a request should be made for audience with the President for an opportunity for the CJA to raise its concerns with him.

Interestingly the press release which condemned the fuel price increase was drafted by a Member of the NDC who felt as aggrieved as other members of the CJA.

The point here is that the collective spirit of the CJA was not broken and members did not take positions which reflected their party membership. Bernard Mornah, the General Secretary of the PNC was mandated to seek audience with the President and he immediately set to work.

Initially, aides to the President insisted that the CJA should rather meet with the Minister for Energy and other technical persons associated with the fuel price increase.

The CJA refused and insisted on meeting the President because some of its members felt very strongly that the experts could be misleading the President. Eventually, President Mills became aware of the tussle and personally decided to meet with the CJA, according to him to explain the rationale for the astronomical increase.

The date was fixed for Tuesday, June 9, 2009 and the time at 11:00 a.m.

The CJA then composed its delegation to be led by Kwesi Pratt, Jnr. Who had just returned home from the United Kingdom. Other members of the delegation included, Kwesi Adu, Convener of the CJA, Dr. David Pessey, a Leader of the NRP, Bernard Mornah from the PNC, Felix Owusu Kwarkye from the NDC and Kobby also from the NDC.

President Mills led a very formidable team to the meeting which included Colonel Gbevlo-Lartey, National Security Co-ordinator, Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah, National Security Advisor, Mohammed Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson and Nii Lante Vanderpuye.

The CJA insisted that the fuel price increases were unjustifiable and that it is important for politicians to keep the promises they make to the electorate. It warned that the increase could have a ripple effect throughout the economy and worsen the plight of under privileged Ghanaians. The CJA urged Government to take another look at the level of taxes and levies which have been imposed on petroleum products in addition to other measures to reduce the level of consumption of fuel in the economy. Some of those measures included improvement in the public transport system, the reduction of fuel allocation to members of government and public institutions, replacement of old and inefficient plant and machinery a ban on the importation of very old vehicles, and improvements in the efficiency levels at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). The CJA was also grateful to the President for the opportunity to meet and discuss an important national issue with him.

The President who remained unruffled throughout the meeting explained that his government is still committed to implementing all of its electoral promises. He said petroleum price increases have become necessary because the Tema Oil Refinery is heavily indebted and that if the debt is not redeemed it could drag the economy down.

He also mentioned the huge budget deficit and the fact that Nigeria had withdrawn the 90-day credit facility it gave Ghana. The President indicated that his government was engaged in diplomatic and political moves to remove all the bottlenecks in the supply of fuel to enable it fix prices that are realistic and affordable.

After the initial round of discussions, it was agreed that the CJA delegation should meet with the President's technical team in a bid to find common grounds. Both sides said they were committed to the alleviation of poverty and hardship.