By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, Sierra Leone: A top opposition parliamentarian has sounded the alarm over the stagnant government fuel prices despite reductions by private oil companies, calling on state agencies to act decisively in the interest of the public.
During a heated parliamentary debate, Hon. Alpha Ben Mansaray, Deputy Public Relations Officer and Deputy Spokesman of the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC), questioned the silence of the National Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NPRA) and the Ministry of Transport and Aviation regarding discrepancies in pump prices.
“Private stations are selling fuel for as low as NLe 24, yet the official government price remains pegged at NLe 27.40. This gap is unjustifiable,” he argued, highlighting the impact on transport fares and the broader cost of living.
Hon. Mansaray condemned the lack of public communication from the relevant agencies, branding it as “maladministration at its core.” He urged Parliament to demand transparency and swift intervention to ease economic pressures on citizens.
In response to the concerns, the Speaker of Parliament mandated a joint inquiry by the Trade and Transport Committees, summoning officials from NPRA and the Ministry of Transport to clarify their positions and policy stance.
“We need to see a press release. We need regulated fuel prices. Most importantly, citizens must feel the relief at the pump and in their daily commute,” Hon. Mansaray said, describing the committee’s move as “good news and a step in the right direction.”