A former Deputy Energy Minister K.T. Hammond says the National Democratic Congress’ indecision over reviewing fuel prices is an indication of the party’s past haunting it. Mr Hammond’s comment follows the decision of the ruling party to stay an upward review of the prices of petroleum products in the country. “What is happening to them right now is they seem to be reaping the political disadvantage of their opportunistic adoption of political decisions for situational advantage,” Mr Hammond told Joy News’ Dzifa Bampoe at on Midday News. He said while the NDC launched a campaign to vehemently criticise the then New Patriotic Party government over all issues of petroleum, the ruling party today believes the populace will be disillusioned with it in the event of an upward review. The NDC prior to the 2008 presidential run-off promised a substantial slash in fuel prices to bring relief to Ghanaians. Immediately following the promise and after the presidential elections entered a run-off, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) announced 17% drop. Mr K.T. Hammond, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa, said while the NPP had only requested Ghanaians to pay realistic prices for fuel, “the NDC every twist and turn took us to the cleaners.” But in a quick rebuttal, Energy Minister Dr Kwabena Donkor said Mr Hammond’s argument was rather surprising. He said rather the NDC’s stance had been to reduce taxes on fuel prices to lesson the burden of consumers, a position he said culminated in the passage of a petroleum bill recently in Parliament to slash fuel taxes. An official of the NPA has hinted that the last review of petroleum prices on June 1 demanded an upward adjustment, however government in keeping to its policies has decided not to increase prices. Mr Donkor however hinted that any further increases will take into consideration the views of the private sector, easily referred to as the engine of growth for the economy. “We are consulting,” he emphasised. The NPA runs a fortnightly price review policy and has intimated an upward price adjustment is inevitable. Story by Fiifi Koomson/Myjoyonline.com