Ride bicycles to work if you cannot afford fuel – NDC Communicator

NDC communicator, Eric Ametor Quarmyne, has called on Ghanaian car owners to park their cars and ride on bicycles to work if they cannot afford to buy fuel for their cars.

Mr Ametor Quarmyne, who is also a consultant for the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says those protesting against the current price of petroleum products can show their displeasure by refusing to buy them, rather than attacking persons in authority, whether in government or the opposition.

Ghanaians across the political divide have urged government to review the prices of petroleum products downwards following a massive drop, about 50%, in the world market price of the commodity on the international market.

But government has decreased the prices by just 10%, to the fury of car owners and commuter.

But Mr Ametor Quarmyne thinks those protesting are talking too much.

“…if you think you can’t afford the real cost of fuel, then I think one of the ways of demonstrating an opposition to the increment is to ride bicycles to work…,” he said, he declared on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Monday in response to claims by a private legal practitioner, Baffour Awuah that the Minority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is sleeping on his job.

Lawyer Awuah argues there is the need for the NPP to replace him [Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu] since compared to other past Minority Leaders in the house, his performance has not been encouraging.

But Ametor Quarmyne, in defense of Osei Kyei- Mensah-Bonsu, said the Minority leader was doing a solid job and there is no need for a ‘radical change’ in the leadership of the Minority in parliament.

“What does he want the Minority Leader to do…if he thinks there are other means of showing boycott then he as a Lawyer can decide for example on the increase of petrol prices decide not to buy fuel and ride bicycles to work…,” he replied.

He said the Lawyer and other Ghanaians who think the cost of fuel is too high and unaffordable should park their cars and ride on bycicles. After all, he stated, it was common in the UK.

But these comments, fellow panelist, Alexander Afenyo-Markins said are ‘inappropriate’ and were an insult to Ghanaians who are being burdened by the high fuel prices.

The Effutu MP, who claimed Mr. Ametor Quarmyne’s ‘bread’ has been ‘buttered’ by the positions he has held with the NHIA, was oblivious to the challenges faced by the ordinary Ghanaian.

-KWAKU NTI