The Minority in Parliament has described President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to scrap fuel allowances and allocations for all political appointees as a populist move and “a PR gimmick.”

President Mahama today, July 15, cancelled the payment and distribution of fuel to all political appointees as part of wider efforts to cut government spending and promote fiscal discipline.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku, questioned the sincerity of the directive and called for more decisive action if the government is serious.

“If the President wants to really show that he's committed on this fuel allowance and the cutting down of fuel and scrapping of it, I'm challenging them to close down the fuel depot at the Castle and Jubilee [House]. Because with that, then that means they are no longer going to take the fuel for free,” he said.

Mr Awuku also raised concerns about the lack of clarity about who qualifies as a political appointee.

“Does it include ministers? Does it include CEOs? Does it include presidential staffers? Who are the political appointees? Are you just talking of ministers or deputies, CEOs?” he quizzed. “Again, I need clarification on the definition of the fuel allowance.”

He further demanded transparency on the amount of money saved from the directive.

“Does it mean fuel for any political appointee, or are they trying to say that the money that will be used to pay these appointees will be refunded, or they'll be made to pay back? We need clarity. Then again, how much is being spent on these fuel allowances, so that after scrapping, how much savings are we making? So these are very serious questions that we need to ask.”

He added: “If the Minister for Communication drives from here to Ada or Ningo-Prampram to do government business, at the end of the day, is he returning the fuel in the vehicle that the State bought for that trip? Or some way, somehow, there wouldn't be any fuel at all?”

“I just see it as populist. It's just a public gimmick and a clear case of PR in settings. That's what I would say.”

However, NDC MP for Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem, Samuel Atta Mills, defended the President’s decision.

“I think it's a great idea. Do you know how many government vehicles we have? So many government vehicles, and I think it's a good example that they should buy their own fuel. I think that would be good for the nation.”

He argued that other public office holders must be willing to sacrifice for the greater good of the country.

“Members of Parliament, don't we go around? Some of the ministers, are they not Members of Parliament? And then they go around just like we do and we, the Members of Parliament, we buy our own fuel. Nobody gives any Member of Parliament fuel allowance. No, we pay, we buy our own fuel,” Mr Mills said.

"Whether coupons or whatever, we buy our own fuel. So you are a minister and then you are buying your own fuel, you are just sacrificing a little bit for the nation, that is it”, he added.