Hassan Tampuli is a former Deputy Minister of Transport
The former Deputy Minister of Transport, Hassan Tampuli, has criticised the government for introducing a new tax after scrapping the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy).
He noted that the “Dumsor Levy” is a repackaged version of the Electronic Transfer Levy, adding that the government has gone back on its word not to introduce new taxes after abolishing others.
“This government promised to remove what they described as nuisance taxes which included E-Levy, Betting Tax, which was never collected and the Emissions Levy, which, all put together, do not come anywhere near what they are asking Ghanaians to pay. They simply took out E-Levy and brought E-Levy Pro Max,” Tampuli was quoted by myjoyonline.com.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has defended the introduction of the new petroleum levy, describing it as a necessary intervention to rescue Ghana’s ailing energy sector from collapse and safeguarding national productivity.
He made this known when the National Economic Dialogue Planning Committee presented its final report to him on June 4, 2025.
He revealed that the energy sector currently shoulders a debt of over $3.1 billion with an additional $1.8 billion needed in the coming months to procure fuel for uninterrupted thermal power generation.
“Our energy sector carries a debt burden of over $3.1 billion, with an estimated US$1.8 billion more required to finance fuel procurements for uninterrupted thermal power generation in the coming months. If left unaddressed, this situation significantly threatens national productivity and industrial growth.
“While we have devised a strategy to liquidate this debt and stop the bleeding in the power sector, we must take advantage of recent gains created by appreciation in the value of our currency to accelerate the solution to our energy sector challenges.
“In line with the dialogue’s recommendation to boldly tackle the crisis in the energy sector, Parliament yesterday approved an amendment to the Energy Sector Levies Act and the certificate of agency, introducing a one Ghana cedi increase in the energy sector recovery levy. This decision, though difficult, is necessary and justifiable”, he added.
SSD/AME