Tax analyst Francis Timore Boi has urged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to provide industry stakeholders with adequate timelines to ensure effective compliance with tax policies, particularly those affecting fuel.
His remarks come in the wake of the GRA’s decision to delay the implementation of the GHC1 Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy—initially set for June 9—following strong pushback from industry players. The new implementation date has been moved to June 16.
Speaking to Citi News, Timore Boi highlighted the critical need for proper transition periods when introducing new taxes, especially on essential commodities like fuel.
“Generally, when new taxes or levies are introduced—particularly on essential commodities like fuel—there must be a reasonable implementation period. This allows businesses time to align and configure their systems for proper compliance,” he explained.
He further called for dialogue between the GRA and Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to agree on a feasible timeline.
“This situation requires both the GRA and OMCs to sit together and determine what a realistic timeline looks like. The concerns raised by the OMCs are valid—there are technical adjustments that must be made before implementation can proceed smoothly,” he added.
Fuel Levy: OMCs reject sudden rollout, demand June 16 start date