A group calling itself Movement for Better Ghana is threatening a counter demonstration in favour of the increase in prices of petroleum products, if pressure group Alliance for Accountable Governance undertakes its threatened nationwide anti-hike demonstrations. The group says demands by AFAG for the government to urgently review the recently announced fuel prices smack of hypocrisy. Formed a week ago, the group says it has realized the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is against the progress and development of Ghana. Addressing a news conference in Kumasi, president of the movement, Aubrey Mends downplayed suggestions that the government is being insensitive to Ghanaians, stating the ruling National Democratic Congress government is only responding to developments on the global crude market. The Alliance for Accountable Governance on Wednesday gave government a ten day ultimatum to reduce petroleum prices or face its wrath, which include nationwide demonstrations. The ultimatum follows the 30 percent increment in petroleum products announced by the National Petroleum Authority on Tuesday. Some social commentators have criticized and accused the government of insensitivity to the plight of Ghanaians. The Association of Ghana Industries and the National Union of Ghana students also say the increments could bring untold hardship to industry and ordinary Ghanaians. The Trades Union Congress has also added its voice to calls on the government to reduce the new petroleum prices. Secretary General of the TUC, Kofi Asamoah has asked the government to urgently reduce petroleum prices. The petroleum price hike according to him, will have adverse effects on standards of living and job security as some companies have threatened to lay off workers to cut down operational cost. However speaking to the media in Kumasi, Movement for a Better Ghana president, Aubrey Mends said the government’s continued subsidization of petroleum products would deprive the nation of important developmental projects. He called on AFAG to rather join the government in building the better Ghana all citizens deserve. "We are by this press conference, ...appealing to all well meaning Ghanaians to bear with government and accept the fact that, the oil price hike is beyond the country’s capacity and it is time for all Ghanaians to brace ourselves for the realities of the situation",he appealed. Mr. Mends accused the NPP of doing nothing to service the TOR debt which has accumulated into billions of cedis. According to him, the NDC government cleared GHS455 million of the TOR debt in 2010 which is currently in excess of GHS1.5 billion owed to the Ghana Commercial Bank. "We implore AFAG to stop the hypocrisy and join the NDC government in our quest to build a better Ghana that all Ghanains deserve", Mr. Mends urged. He also served notice his Movement will henceforth counter AFAG. "With all these mistakes and all that, how can you demonstrate? If they demonstrate, we will also demonstrate, we will meet them booth-for-booth, because we have relaised that they don’t want this country to progress. They want to do everything to retard the progress of NDC, we will never allow that", he chanted as he banged his hand on the table. A leading member of the group, Kwasi Ofori Agyemang also told Nhyira News the government appreciates the concerns of industry. He however said the government can only build a strong economy by charging realistic prices for petroleum products. Mr. Agyeman called on industry to devise ways to increase income to stay in business. Story by: Ohemeng Tawiah/Nhyira Fm-Kumasi/Ghana