Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) in the country owe the government more than ¢400 million, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, the CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), has stated.

The debts, he said are in the form of taxes stressing it was rather unfortunate that "the OMCs don't want to pay taxes."

Dr Abdul-Hamid said this when he inaugurated the newly refurbished 60-seater capacity conference hall of the Bono Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Sunyani, funded by the NPA through the Authority’s Corporate Social Responsibility fund.

He said although God had blessed the country, the bad attitudes of many Ghanaians remained the bane of the socioeconomic development of the nation.

“Change of attitude is required if we can build our nation,” Dr Abdul-Hamid stated, saying “we all have no choice but to contribute as little as we can because individual commitment is needed towards the holistic development of the nation.”

Comparing Ghana to other advanced countries, he said it would be a sign of ingratitude to “God and our forefathers if Ghanaians continue to speak ill of a country which offers all levels of education partially free to our people”.

 “So, let’s all try and change our attitudes and rededicate ourselves to the development of our country because everybody, including the clergy, chiefs and queens, politicians and academia, has our share of running the country down.”

The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu-Banahene expressed appreciation to the Management, Board and entire staff of the NPA for renovating the conference hall, which she added was left to deteriorate.

“The renovation of the conference hall is a testament of the good work of the NPA and for that matter Dr Abdul-Hamid,” she indicated, saying the facility had now been put in good shape to facilitate effective work of the RCC.