Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament's Energy Committee, Collins Adomako-Mensah, has criticised the government over what he describes as a contradictory approach to the planned GH₵1 fuel levy, saying the move goes against commitments made in the 2025 Budget.
Speaking on Channel One TV's The Point of View on Monday June 16, the Afigya Kwabre North MP questioned the rationale behind the government's proposed Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1141), which was expected to introduce a GH₵1 increase on petrol and diesel and a 20 pesewa rise on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Though the levy has since been postponed due to rising global oil prices, Adomako-Mensah insists the mere proposal betrays the government's own policy direction. "I think probably they are not listening to themselves," he said. "If you go back to the budget - I'd like to refer you to paragraph 264 - both 263 and 264, the minister said, 'Mr.
Speaker, government assumed the liability and debt service obligation of ESLA Plc following the bond closure programme and subsequent liquidation of ESLA Plc as a result of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP).'" He pointed out that paragraph 264 of the 2025 Budget further stated government's intention to consolidate existing levies rather than introduce new charges. "Consequently, without increasing the levy, we will also review the Energy Sector Levies Act to consolidate the Energy Debt Recovery Levy and the Sanitation and Pollution Levy into one levy, and use the proceeds to cater for energy sector shortfalls and service the inherited debt service obligation," he quoted.
