Failed Promises And Dashed Hopes

Two years into its administration, the Mills government has failed to drastically reduce the prices of petroleum products, a discrepancy with the backbone of their SOS political campaign during the runoff polls. A desperate Candidate Mills at the time was ready to grab anything which could make him realize his dream of becoming President, as would a drowning man chancing upon a reed. The politicisation of petroleum products prices was a most preferred option and he jumped at it with the agility of an Agama lizard, making a leap from the top a tree. Now, Ghanaians have the opportunity to interrogate the sincerity of the man who promised to drastically reduce the prices of these products when another Ghanaian was at the helm of affairs. Governments, we do agree, sometimes adopt certain measures against the backdrop of the realities on the ground. When these happen, an analysis devoid of diabolic utterances and promises shrouded in partisan colours should be undertaken. Some radio stations continue to use the sound bite of the then Candidate Mills promises as he tried making mincemeat of the Kufuor administration’s policy on petroleum product pricing. He managed to convince many of his compatriots about his possession, as it were, the magic wand, to make petroleum product pricing friendly. Sincerity and decorum are critical hallmarks of a government which seeks reciprocal gesture from the citizenry or even its political opponents in a democratic dispensation. The truth of the matter is that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) played a dangerous political game with the pricing of petroleum products. Now that they find themselves in the quagmire, it would be such a wonderful gesture if they apologise to the people of this country and those they hurled uncharitable words at when they were in opposition. We could not agree more with the stance of the NPP yesterday when it demanded an apology from the President to the people of Ghana. The politicisation of oil, which then Candidate Mills embraced so dearly, is detrimental to governance in our part of the world and the earlier all politicians steered clear of this tendency, the better. There cannot be any embarrassment beyond being labelled liars when ample proof exists to underscore such a description by one’s opponents. Truth, NDC founder Rawlings implored his colleague party persons especially leaders, should serve as their guiding principle. We proceed to add that such a truth or verity should be “the truth” and not any other version of this value, pure without a stain. Ghanaians are victims of an overdose of petroleum politics. A situation where the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) debt has seven or so versions is most reprehensible. The Asaga version, Mills version, John Mahama version and Duffuor version, among others, are indicative of a deliberate effort at concealing the truth.