The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has said fuel prices at the pumps may go down by 15% on March 15, which is the next pricing window.

This follows the 30% drop in global crude prices and the relative stability of the cedi against major international currencies.

The Chief Executive Officer of the NPA, Hassan Tampuli, speaking to the media on Tuesday, said although prices are likely to go down, there are due process that must be followed.

He explained that the deregulation policy allows for two window periods within which price adjustments are to take place, and that the next price window is March 15th, at which time the changes is expected to be effected by the OMCs.

The government and OMCs have come under criticisms for the ensuring the reduction in fuel prices to reflect the sustained decline in the Global fall in price of crude oil.

Groups like the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) have demanded an immediate reduction in fuel prices to reduce burden on the Ghanaian consumer.

The NPA, however described the calls for immediate reduction as premature and hasty, asserting that actions can only be taken procedurally in due time.

COPEC is however against this position since in most cases, OMCS do not fully apply the same window rule when fuel prices go up on the world market, but often effect the changes immediately.

Mr Tampuli described the continuous backlash as unnecessary, stating that, industry players are aware of the Global Crude oil prices slump, and will eventually effect the required changes.

“We have observed the price movement from the 1st of March up to date, and there’s a very clear indication that the prices will go down by the 16th of March. So it is not for Sammy Gyamfi [NDC’s National Communication Officer] or anybody else to determine for us what the price should be.

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The industry people themselves understand that the prices have to go down because there’s a reduction in the price on the international market; government taxes have not increased, the cedi is way stronger than the dollar, and we should get the benefit of that.”

“What they must also know is that the Oil Marketing Companies are entitled to some margins which come to about 68 pesewas in the price build-up. Now because of the forces of demand and supply, they have reduced their margins sometimes to about 30 or 40 pesewas in order to be able to beat the other oil marketing companies.”

“Bear in mind that, they could have gone all the way to 68 pesewas which is statutorily allowed for them, so that should tell you that even the OMCs are not as reckless as they want us to believe, and we’ve been monitoring as a regulator, and we believe that by the next pricing window from what we have seen with movement of the products, the prices and so forth, we’re likely to see something within the range of 15% reduction. That’s from our calculation all things being equal up to 15th of March.”

Mr. Tampuli added that the government has been more prudent in its handling of the petroleum sector and that any attempts by critics to downplay their efforts would be disingenuous.

“Let me also put it on record, that but for the intervention of the government, Ghanaians would have been paying far more than they’re paying right now. On 7th January when Nana Akufo-Addo took office, the total price build-up consisted of over 40% taxes, levies, and margins, today that is 14% less, we’re doing 26%, and this has denied the government about 1.2 billion Ghana cedis, and that’s what the President has given to the Ghanaian people.”

“So if we talk about a government that’s responsive to the needs of the people of this country, what the President is able to do in terms of the taxes he has done so. And when it comes to the competent management of the cedi, it is there for all to see. So when prices go up on the international market, Ghanaians will pay accordingly, so now that the prices are coming down, nobody will tell the OMCs or the NPA or government that the prices should come down; it will come down naturally”.