Information Minister Defends Fuel Price Reductions Amid Public Criticism

Information Minister Defends Fuel Price Reductions Amid Public Criticism

Minister of Information and Civic Education, Chernor Bah, has defended the government’s recent fuel price adjustments, citing an AI-generated analysis to position Sierra Leone’s reductions as competitive within the West African region.

Addressing public disappointment over a 5 percent drop in petrol prices and 12.5 percent for diesel, Bah acknowledged that many citizens expected larger decreases. However, he referenced a ChatGPT comparison suggesting that Sierra Leone’s diesel reduction was the largest in the sub-region during this period.

Bah emphasized that the government neither imports nor sells fuel, clarifying that prices are set using a formula reviewed by international partners and oil marketing companies. 

He stated that officials pushed this formula to its limit to balance consumer relief with sector stability. With fuel prices scheduled for review in two weeks, the Minister suggested further adjustments remain possible depending on evolving market conditions.