By Godwill Arthur-Mensah
Accra, June 04, GNA–The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus in Parliament has vehemently rejected a proposed energy sector levy that will impose One Ghana Cedi on a litre of petroleum products if the bill is passed into law.
Mr Collins Adomako Mensah, the NPP Member of Parliament for Afigya Kwabre North, while speaking on behalf of the Caucus, on the floor of the House on Tuesday, alleged that upon passage of the bill, petrol prices would increase by 105 per cent, diesel would witness 110 per cent upward adjustment and marine fuel would go up by 400 per cent.
The legislator expressed surprise that the NDC Majority Caucus, which opposed new taxes when it was in opposition, was now applauding Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, for introducing a new tax to overburden Ghanaians.
“Is that what you promised the people of Ghana? Is this the reset you were talking about? This is an e-levy promax. We, the Minority will stand with Ghanaians to reject the bill,” Mr Adomako Mensah queried.
The lawmaker claimed the new energy levy would rake in revenue of GHS 5.7 billion for the government.
Earlier, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, laid before Parliament the bill to amend the Energy Sector Levies Act, 2025 to enable government to impose energy levy on petroleum products.
The Minister said the levy would serve as a dedicated source of funding to the power sector, and the proceeds would be earmarked for the procurement of essential fuel for power generation.
The action, Dr Forson explained, was due to $3.7 billion in energy sector debts as of March this year.
Dr Forson assured the House that the impact of the new levy on petroleum prices would be neutralised by the impressive performance of the Ghana cedi, ensuring that consumers would not pay extra for petrol or diesel.
GNA
Kenneth Odeng Adade