Ex-deputy Energy Minister under the Kufuor regime, K.T. Hammond has accused government of defrauding Ghanaians with the recent 30 per cent hike in fuel prices. According to him, government is fraudulently charging over GH¢1.00 on each gallon of petrol sold to consumers. He produced as evidence to the media, a letter signed by the acting boss of the National Petroleum Authority, Alex Mould, asking for the collection and payment of the ex-refinery differential revenue accrued on the sale of the fuel into two separate accounts. (Accounts names withheld). The June 5, 2009 letter, headlined “REVISION OF DOMESTIC AND EXPORT PETROLEUM PRODUCTS PRICES”, a copy of which was made available to Myjoyonline.com, had the logo of the NPA boldly printed on it, but did not indicate any addressee. It is referenced DF 181/249/01 and signed by Alex Mould. The letter further states “In respect of the negative ex-refinery differentials, we should be grateful if you would submit your under-recovery claims accordingly.” This letter, KT Hammond insists confirms his earlier suspicion of fraud perpetrated by the government on the people. He did not understand why the then NPP government sold a gallon of petrol at GH¢5.20 when crude oil was selling at the international market at $116 per barrel, but under the NDC government and with an international crude oil price of $69 per barrel, the same gallon of petrol is sold at GH¢5.00. The missing link, he claimed was in the ex-refinery differential revenue which government sources, he again alleged, have failed to provide answers to. He said the minority will pursue the matter to its logical conclusion. A source at the NPA told Myjoyonline.com, the minister will address a press conference on Thursday to respond to the allegations. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com