Atta Mills visits Bolgatanga and environs
Sunday, March 9th
Professor Mills has pledged that when given the mandate to govern after this year’s general election, his government will adopt a petroleum pricing policy that will review downwards the current levels at which Ghanaians are paying for petroleum products.
Speaking at Bolgatanga as part of his nationwide tour, he told the people that a Mills led government will not follow the current petroleum pricing policy of the Kufuor led NPP administration, adding that as the Leader of a social democratic party, there is no way his government will allow the vulnerable and disadvantaged in society to continue to suffer unnecessarily from vagaries of the international crude oil market. “All we need, is a very efficient way of managing our crude oil purchase in a manner that will not make us so vulnerable to the vagaries of the oil market and also make sure that we have an efficient storage regime and we will not have to be increasing petroleum prices three to four times in a matter of weeks”. He said.
“Of course, if God blesses us with our own crude oil, and as a Leader of a government that will exploit its expertise in negotiating in the greater interest of the country, I can promise you that the price of petroleum products will not be as exorbitant as they are now” Professor Mills said. Professor Mills added that as a tax expert, he knows for a fact that his government will be able to adopt a bearable petroleum pricing policy and still rake in the needed revenue from that sector for developing the nation. “It is not only about revenue collection; what is most important, is the efficient deployment of whatever revenue that accrues to the nation and I assure you that I will manage the resources of the nation judiciously” the renowned tax expert said. Speaking specifically to issues concerning the Upper East Region, the NDC Leader promised that his government will make sure that the region gets a first class regional hospital.
“The NDC’s track record in providing first class health facilities to the regions and districts is very visible and I will continue from where we left off” the NDC Leader said.
Professor Mills also pledged to look at the possibility of harnessing the wind advantage the Upper East Region has, in order to venture into the sphere of generating wind energy. According to Professor Mills, agriculture is going to be one of the key pivots around which his government will revolve and so the wind energy will be used to power the irrigation plants that will be used to for large scale farming especially in the areas of tomato and watermelon farming and also set up the factories to manage those farming activities.
