NPP Dismisses Mahama’s Cancellation of Fuel Allowances as ‘PR and Settings’

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has dismissed the move by President Mahama to cancel the provision of fuel coupons to political appointees as a populist move.

Member of Parliament for Akuapim North, Sammi Awuku, speaking on the issue, said the directive from the President was nothing but a public relations gimmick, using the slang term ‘settings.’

The Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government announced on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 that the payment of fuel allowances and the allocation of fuel to all political appointees had been cancelled.

The move was pitched as part of a broader effort to reduce government expenditure while improving fiscal discipline.

Reacting to it, Sammi Awuku told the media that the directive is not particularly clear on what it seeks to achieve.

“Clearly, if you ask me, I think there are more questions to be asked with this particular directive. I just see it as populist. It’s just a public gimmick and a clear case of PR and settings. That’s what I would say.” Awuku said.

He argued that there is a fuel depot at the Osu Castle and Jubilee House which appointees can still use for their free fuel.

Awuku said if the government is serious, they should close down those depots.

“If they really and actually want to be seen that they are biting the bullet and really scrapping this fuel allowance, I said two things – the fuel depot at the Osu Castle and the fuel depot at Jubilee House. Once you close down these two [we know you’re serious]. Because these are the places that the governor appointees go for the fuel. So nobody should come and play with our mind.” he said.

He added that other appointees, such as CEOs, get fuel allowances as part of their entitlements, and it’s not clear if they are affected by the directive.

“We need clarity on these matters,” he concluded.

Analysis of Sammi Awuku’s pushbackon fuel allowance directive

The NPP continues to disappoint in their reactions to the impressive moves being made by the current NDC government.

Being in opposition does not mean you reflexively reject whatever the ruling party does, but the NPP appears set on autopilot when it comes to their political instincts.

If the NPP could scrap the allowances Mahama has done, they would have done it when they were in power. The fact that they failed to do so and are now attempting to paint this move as ‘settings’ is laughable, to say the least.