2006年VOA标准英语-Ghana's Ruling Party Faces Opposition Over Gas

By Efam Dovi
Accra, Ghana
27 July 2006

A recent boost in gas prices across Ghana is generating unprecedented¹ criticism from members of the ruling New Patriotic² Party, with some fearing that the party could lose the next general elections as a result.

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Last week's 10 to 22 percent price boost on petroleum³ products is the third increase this year, raising premium⁴ gas prices to an all time high of close to $5 per gallon, about three times higher than the minimum wage of many Ghanaians.
 
Previous price reviews by the state owned regulatory body, the National Petroleum Authority, attracted strong criticism and street protests by members of parliament, who have consistently urged the government to remove taxes on petroleum products.
 
But this time round, it is the members of the ruling New Patriotic Party, or NPP, who are calling on their government to ease the burden of the price increase.
 

 

Paul Appiah-Ofori, NPP Member of Parliament   
  

Member of parliament Paul Appiah-Ofori blames corruption⁶ for the recent gas price debacle. He calls for an immediate⁷ investigation⁸ into the operations of the country's bulk oil supplier, Tema Oil Refinery⁹.
 
"What I expect to be done at the Tema Oil refinery is for the government to set up a committee to go into the operations of the company to identify and eliminate the abnormal one," he said.  "Because the abnormal cost results from inefficiencies, it results from corrupt⁵ practices, embezzlement¹⁰ of funds, misappropriation, all sorts of improprieties constitute cost and they are pass on to the consumers through total cost absorption."
 
Appiah-Ofori says higher prices are causing hardship and urges the government to adopt prudent¹¹ management of the economy to generate revenue from other sources.
 
"Unless we plug loopholes, unless we prevent corruption, unless you prevent avoidable cost, I assure you that this country will fail, no government can save this country where corrupt practices move from strength to strength. It is most unfortunate," he said.
 
Previous appeals to President John Kufuor's government to reduce taxes on gas prices have been ignored. The government maintains that domestic prices are being pushed up because of price pressures from the global market.
 
Appiah-Ofori says he would consider using the courts to get the government to listen.
 
"Yes, if it goes on like this, maybe I will be compelled to go to court in order to compel the president to listen, because you see, Article 1, Clause (1) of our Constitution states that the sovereignty of Ghana resides in the people of Ghana, in whose name and for whose welfare the powers of government are to be exercised," he said.
 
According to some analysts¹²., more than 40 percent of the price of gas in Ghana is contributed to tax.

1 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

2 patriotic   

adj.爱国的，有爱国心的

参考例句：

• His speech was full of patriotic sentiments.他的演说充满了爱国之情。
• The old man is a patriotic overseas Chinese.这位老人是一位爱国华侨。

3 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

4 premium   

n.加付款；赠品；adj.高级的；售价高的

参考例句：

• You have to pay a premium for express delivery.寄快递你得付额外费用。
• Fresh water was at a premium after the reservoir was contaminated.在水库被污染之后，清水便因稀而贵了。

5 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

6 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

7 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。

9 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

10 embezzlement   

n.盗用，贪污

参考例句：

• He was accused of graft and embezzlement and was chained and thrown into prison.他因被指控贪污盗窃而锒铛入狱。
• The judge sent him to prison for embezzlement of funds.法官因他盗用公款将其送入监牢。

11 prudent   

adj.谨慎的，有远见的，精打细算的

参考例句：

• A prudent traveller never disparages his own country.聪明的旅行者从不贬低自己的国家。
• You must school yourself to be modest and prudent.你要学会谦虚谨慎。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。