Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, has warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East means the world and Ghana will not return to “normal” anytime soon.
Speaking on the KeyPoints on April 4, he stressed that oil and fuel prices are determined by a global supply chain and cannot be insulated from international disruptions.
“First thing I think people should appreciate is that this is a global market. We will be affected,” he said, emphasizing the need for public education on the issue.
Bentil criticised Ghanaian leaders for focusing on short-term trading gains rather than strategic use of local oil and refining capacity to cushion the economy.
“All the oil we are finding is essentially just revenue. We should use that money to stabilise our fuel systems,” he explained.
He also warned that smuggling, while a concern, should not prevent Ghana from using its resources strategically to manage fuel prices.
“If we do the strategic thinking, Ghana will be an oasis in a desert of chaos, but nobody’s doing it,” he concluded, calling for deliberate medium- and long-term planning.
