Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to the New Patriotic Party flagbearer, has criticised the government’s GH¢2 reduction in diesel prices, arguing that the intervention has failed to deliver substantial relief to consumers because petroleum prices remain higher than levels recorded before the current administration took office.
Mr Aboagye maintained that the central issue should not be the value of the reduction announced by government but rather the actual impact of the policy on the financial pressures confronting households, businesses and transport operators across the country.
His comments follow President John Dramani Mahama’s directive on August 3, 2026, ordering a GH¢2 decrease in diesel prices as part of measures aimed at reducing the burden of rising fuel costs on drivers and the wider economy.
Speaking during an interview on Eyewitness News, Mr Aboagye acknowledged the government’s decision to reduce the price of diesel but argued that the adjustment does not represent a significant change when compared with the overall cost of fuel currently paid by consumers at filling stations.
“The question is not about how much he is removing. It is what impact the two cedis is making in the global picture,” he stated.
The NPP representative explained that despite the reduction, petroleum prices continue to contribute significantly to the high cost of living because fuel expenses directly influence transportation fares, production costs and the prices of goods and services.
He stressed that the broader economic impact of expensive fuel products remains a major concern for households, adding that the government must be evaluated based on whether its interventions have produced noticeable improvements in the daily lives of citizens.
“As we speak, even with the removal of the two cedis, fuel prices are still more expensive than they met it,” Mr Aboagye said.
He further argued that the government should be assessed against its campaign commitments, particularly promises made to reduce economic hardships and lower the cost of living for Ghanaians.
“The promise was a sacred one to the people of this country. He said he was going to make it cheaper, make it less expensive for the Ghanaian people,” he added.
Mr Aboagye also questioned why fuel prices continue to remain elevated despite improvements recorded in some economic indicators, including inflation trends and movements in the exchange rate.
According to him, positive developments within the wider economy have not translated into sufficient relief for ordinary citizens because the cost of petroleum products continues to place pressure on household finances.
He reiterated that many Ghanaians remain concerned that fuel prices under the current administration are still higher than the levels inherited from the previous government, even after the introduction of the GH¢2 reduction.
“The Ghanaian people are talking about the fact that the NDC came to meet a litre of fuel at the pumps at a certain price and today, even with the two cedis removed, it is more expensive than they met it,” Mr Aboagye stated.
He concluded that government must prioritise policies that create measurable improvements in the economic conditions of citizens rather than relying on interventions that provide limited impact without significantly reducing the financial challenges faced by households.
