By Joseph Momoh, Staff Reporter
Richard Konteh, an aspirant for the All People’s Congress (APC) flagbearer position, has accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of misleading the public regarding the recent fuel price increase.
Konteh refuted the NPRA’s assertion that the fuel pump price rose by only Le1.10, calling the claim “false and deceptive.” He contended that consumers are facing a much higher price hike than the regulator acknowledges.
The APC member stated that prior to the official adjustment, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) were selling fuel for Le25 per litre, despite the NPRA’s refusal to formally acknowledge this lower price. With the new official pump price now pegged at Le28.50 per litre, he argued that the effective increase is over Le3 per litre.
“The government should be transparent about the fuel price increase,” Konteh asserted. “The increment is above Le3, not just Le1.10 as being claimed. The public is being misled.” He expressed skepticism about the factors cited for the price hike, asserting that the usual drivers of fuel prices, including Platts pricing, do not seem to apply in this context. Additionally, he noted that the exchange rate has remained stable over the past year, undermining claims that currency fluctuations justify the rise.
Konteh highlighted the excise tax imposed on petroleum products as a primary factor driving fuel prices higher, stating it imposes unnecessary hardship on ordinary Sierra Leoneans. “This increase has nothing to do with global prices or exchange rates but everything to do with the government’s desperation to raise revenue,” he said.
He further criticized what he described as excessive presidential travel, arguing that better management of public resources could alleviate the burden on citizens. Konteh suggested that reducing such expenditures could free up funds to ease the economic pressures faced by the public.
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