Kade (eastern Region) -- THE planned increase in the price of petroleum products dominated proceedings at the people’s assemblies at Kade and New Abirem in the Kwaebibirem and Birim North districts of the Eastern Region.Most of the members of the public, who spoke said although the increase may be justified, it will bring untold hardship on the people and called on the government to subsidise petroleum products with funds that will accrue from the HIPC initiative.

They said petrol is the life-wire of the economy and so any increase will affect the prices of all goods and services in the country, thereby worsening the plight of the poor who are mostly rural dwellers.According to the speakers, although the HIPC funds are meant for the development of the country, they can be used to provide safety nets for the people to cushion the effects of the increases in the world price of crude oil.

However, Nana Ohene Ntow, the Government Spokesman on Finance, explained that it will not be in the interest of the country to use HIPC Funds, which are solely meant for development purposes to subsidise petroleum products. He explained that what should be done is for the people to see the reality of the situation which, according to him, was brought about by the refusal of the previous government to gradually adjust upwards the prices of the petroleum products just to win votes in the last general elections.

The government spokesman, who stated that the people should sacrifice a little to absorb the new price increases so as to put the economy on a sound footing and bring the smiles back on the faces of all, suggested that Ghanaians should patronise made-in-Ghana goods to save more foreign exchange and help stabilise the cedi. On telecommunications, he said plans are advanced to install in every community communication equipment that does not rely on telephone lines to enable the people, particularly those in the rural areas, to communicate with ease.

Nana Ohene Ntow, who dwelt extensively on the economy, said the government is aware of the people’s hardship but stated that with the pragmatic measures it is pursuing, there is hope that very soon the situation will improve. Both the Deputy Eastern Regional Minister, Mr Gustav Narh Domerty, and the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, explained government policies to the people and said the NPP administration is doing its best to make life worth living for them.

The two deputy ministers and Nana Ohene Ntow, who were assisted by Mr Yiadom Boakye and Mr V.B. Owusu-Ahenkorah, district chief executives for Kwaebibirem and Birim North respectively answered a number of questions on all aspects of the economy.The two DCEs told the people what the district assemblies had done since the new government took office, particularly the provision of infrastructure and other social amenities which according to them, have helped to improve the lot of the people.