An aspirant for the flagbearer position of the All People’s Congress (APC), Richard Konteh, has accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Regulatory Agency (NPRA) of misleading the public over the true extent of the recent fuel price increase.

Konteh rejected claims by the NPRA that the pump price of fuel rose by only Le1.10, describing the explanation as false and deceptive. He insisted that the actual increase paid by consumers is significantly higher than what the regulator has publicly acknowledged.

Speaking on the issue, Konteh said that before the official price adjustment, fuel was already being sold by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) at Le25 per litre. According to him, this was happening at a time when the NPRA declined to formally review or announce the lower price. With the new official pump price now set at Le28.50 per litre, Konteh argued that the effective increase is more than Le3 per litre.

“Government should be transparent about the fuel price increase,” Konteh said. “The increment is above Le3, not Le1.10 as being claimed. The public is being misled.”

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He also questioned the reasons given for the price hike, stating that the usual factors that drive fuel price increases, including Platts pricing, do not appear to apply in the current situation. Konteh further noted that the exchange rate has remained relatively stable over the past year, weakening claims that currency fluctuations justified the increase.

According to the APC flagbearer aspirant, the main pressure on fuel prices is coming from the excise tax imposed on petroleum products. He said the tax is placing unnecessary hardship on ordinary Sierra Leoneans.

“The excise tax on fuel is what is causing more pain,” he said. “This increase has nothing to do with global prices or exchange rates but everything to do with the government’s desperation to raise revenue.”

Konteh also criticized what he described as excessive presidential travel, arguing that better management of public resources could help reduce the burden on citizens. He suggested that cutting down on such expenses could free up funds to ease economic pressure on the population.

His comments come at a time of growing public frustration over rising fuel prices, as drivers, traders, and commuters warn that higher transportation costs could worsen the cost-of-living crisis.

As public pressure mounts, critics are calling on the NPRA and the government to provide clearer explanations for fuel price adjustments, review fuel-related taxes, and adopt policies that prioritize the welfare of ordinary Sierra Leoneans.