play videoGuns, money and others were retrieved from 10 foreign nationals engaged in illegal gold trading

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), in collaboration with National Security, has apprehended a group of 10 foreign nationals involved in illegal gold trading in the Western Region.

The coordinated operation also led to the seizure of 12 pump-action shotguns, ammunition, calibration equipment, large sums of cash, and quantities of gold.

This development comes just days after GoldBod warned against trading in gold without a valid license issued under its new regulatory framework.

The Chief Executive Officer of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, announced the official commencement of the new gold licensing regime, which revokes all gold trading licenses previously issued under the former Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC).

Speaking at a press conference on June 30, 2025, Sammy Gyamfi emphasised that all old licenses became invalid after the non-extendable deadline of June 21, 2025.

He warned that any gold trading activities conducted without the new GoldBod license are now considered illegal.

“If you are not licensed by the Ghana Gold Board, you are committing a crime if you buy gold or engage in any form of gold trading. We will no longer continue to respect the licenses issued under the old regime,” he firmly stated.

He further stressed that the era of illegal gold trading has come to an end, adding that PMMC licenses or those previously issued by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources are no longer recognized under the current legal framework.

Goldbod, in partnership with National Security, has apprehended a group of foreign nationals engaged in unlawful gold trading. The coordinated operation resulted in the seizure of 12 pump-action shotguns, ammunition, calibration equipment, large sums of cash, and quantities of… pic.twitter.com/hvBvI4ICno

— GhanaWeb (@TheGhanaWeb) July 2, 2025

Goldbod Taskforce Cracks Down on 10 Chinese gold smugglers in Western Region. pic.twitter.com/dNk80ycuHb

— Ghana GOLDBOD (@GhanaGOLDBOD) July 2, 2025

SSD/MA

GhanaWeb Special: The gold market that fuels galamsey

How social engineering hacks your mind and your bank account

Henry Osei Akoto is a leading member of the NDC

A leading member of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Henry Osei Akoto, has said the launch of the 24-Hour Economy by the John Dramani Mahama-government will open up Ghana’s economy for growth.

He explained that the initiative, which he described as bipartisan, is the surest way for Ghana to compete on the global scale when it comes to economic growth and expansion.

Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb following the launch of the policy, which is also known as 24H+ Agenda, on July 2, 2025, Osei Akoto said Ghana loses more money from the number of hours it sleeps, as compared to the hours the nation stays productive.

“The 24-Hour Economy has been the mantra and policy we have been marketing over the years and every Ghanaian knows it. So, people who say it is an after-thought are mistaken. What we are telling Ghanaians is that the only way to expand the economy, to open up the economy, to create opportunities in the country as we speak now is to work beyond the 8-hour practice we have now. We should be working for 24-hours.

“The country shouldn’t sleep. The hours we use to sleep are monies gone and so if we want to be part of the current dispensation of the 21st century world economy, then we have to open up the country by making sure we are working 24-hours,” he explained.

Calling on all to support the policy of the NDC, Henry Osei Akoto said that the launch by President Mahama is fulfilment of the promise he made to the country.

He added that the 24-Hour Economy will create opportunities for all, especially the youth, and help expand the economy.

He also stressed that with this policy afloat, it places Ghana among many countries of the world who are benefiting from working around the clock, boosting their economies.

“The launch of the 24-Hour Economy by the president today is a laudable idea. We all remember that before the election, he was going around the country telling people that he was going to expand the economy, create opportunities for the youth, and that there was going to be more money in the economy, and he is going to propel that through the 24-Hour Economy policy. Looking at what he’s done today, it really affirms what he said some few months back and Ghanaians should support him.

“It is a good initiative. It is happening everywhere in the world… you don’t go to Europe and after 10PM, the whole country is asleep. No. Not only in Europe, but even in some African countries. Got to North Africa; go to Egypt, go to Morocco and other places and see what is happening there. So, we all have to embrace this thing because it is a good thing that I believe will create opportunities for Ghanaians and will open up the economy for more money and prosperity to come into it,” he added.

The 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, also referred to as “24H+,” is a flagship initiative of the Mahama-led administration.

It seeks to re-engineer Ghana’s productivity framework by extending economic activity beyond traditional working hours and integrating key sectors into a seamless, efficient value chain.

The transformative programme comes with a projected cost of $4 billion.

The government is committing between $300 million and $400 million as seed capital to cover viability gaps and attract private sector investments.

MA

AGI urges government to account for environmental levies

The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has called on the government to provide greater transparency and accountability in the use of environmental levies collected from businesses across the country.

According to John Defor, Director of Policy and Research at AGI, although businesses continue to comply with payments under the Environmental Excise Tax (EET) and Sanitation Levy, there is little evidence of how these funds are being used to tackle the growing plastic waste and sanitation challenges facing Ghana.

“We are fulfilling our tax obligations, but we don’t see the government putting those taxes to the intended use,” Defor said.

The Environmental Excise Tax, introduced in 2013, requires companies importing plastic raw materials to pay 10 percent of the CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) value. Half of the revenue from this tax is meant to support plastic waste management infrastructure. In addition, the Sanitation Levy – popularly known as the ‘bola tax’ places a 10-pesewa charge on every litre of fuel purchased.

Defor noted that these levies generate significant revenue and should be channelled into waste management, environmental education, and recycling infrastructure.

He recommended the establishment of a dedicated fund to ensure these levies are not absorbed into the Consolidated Fund without proper use.

“With Ghana’s National Plastic Management Policy already in place, we expect stronger government commitment and visible results,” he added.

On the proposed bannig of some plastics, Defor expressed concern about its impact on businesses – highlighting that many companies already practice sustainable plastic use through recycling and second-life solutions.

Private sector efforts to fight plastic waste

Despite these concerns, private sector initiatives like the Ghana Recycling Initiative by Private Enterprises (GRIPE) under the AGI continue to play a leading role in addressing plastic waste.

As part of its ongoing efforts, GRIPE has donated 100 eco-friendly desks and chairs made from recycled plastics to five basic schools in the Ga West Municipal Assembly. Beneficiary schools include Odumase M/A Basic School 1, Medie M/A Basic School, Otsirikomfo M/A Basic School, Kwashiekuma Methodist Basic School, and Afuaman M/A Basic School.

GRIPE president Eric Boamah said the donation aimed at educating and inspiring schoolchildren to embrace recycling and responsible waste management. “We’re solving two problems – educating the youth and promoting sustainability,” he said.

Victor Nene Tawiah, Ga West Director of Education, welcomed the gesture – stressing the importance of building environmental awareness among schoolchildren. He called for more support from other organisations to improve infrastructure in public schools.

Both AGI and GRIPE maintain that while private efforts are ongoing, stronger government action and clear use of environmental levies are essential to effectively combat plastic waste and promote sustainable development in Ghana.

How social engineering hacks your mind and your bank account

Konlan Namleeb presenting the items to beneficiaries in Nakpanduri

Yennutoona Foundation-Ghana, a non-profit organisation, has extended its support to vulnerable individuals in the Bunkpurugu-Nakpanduri district of the North East Region.

The beneficiaries include people with physical disabilities, the visually impaired, widows, elderly women, orphans, and others in need within the district.

The beneficiaries received bags of maize, clothing, and various food items.

Additionally, over 60 women’s groups were provided with cash grants to help expand their businesses.

In an interview with DAILY GUIDE during a brief ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Yennutoona Foundation-Ghana, Konlan Namleeb, indicated that during the lean  season, many rural communities in the district face food shortages, prompting him to support those in need.

According to him, the foundation has also provided cashew and shea nut seedlings to 60 women’s groups, enabling them to engage in farming and support their families.

“These seedlings will economically empower the women, allowing them to pay their children’s school fees and fulfil other family responsibilities,” he stated.

Mr. Namleeb revealed that Yennutoona Foundation-Ghana plans to train artisans in the district, equipping them with vocational skills to create sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.

He urged the government and other institutions to develop policies that positively impact vulnerable individuals in rural communities across the country.

FROM Eric Kombat, Nakpanduri

Walk into any factory floor or trading stall today, and you will hear the same lament: “I borrowed to grow, but the interest is eating the profits faster than I can earn them.”

That theme now echoes in the data. The Bank of Ghana’s latest Domestic Money Banks Report shows that lenders had to wipe off GH¢654.2 million from their books between January and April 2025, money that borrowers simply could not repay. Even after last 7year’s financial clean-up, the stock of non-performing loans has climbed to GH¢21.7 billion and still accounts for nearly a quarter of total lending.

This growing pile of bad loans is not just an inconvenience, it is a recurring symptom of a deeper structural issue in Ghana’s financial ecosystem.

High write-offs are only the most visible scar. Because banks must price for that risk, the average 91-day treasury bill still yields around 14.93%, creating a benchmark that drags commercial lending rates into the mid-20s.

Businesses that borrow at those levels are, in effect, betting they can earn returns higher than many venture-capital portfolios, an almost impossible expectation in a business environment still battling inflation, which remains above 18.4%.

For many firms, that bet fails. Arrears build up, collateral is seized, employees are laid off, and once again banks are forced to write off loans, depleting their capital and confidence in the credit market.

Ghana’s sovereign finances are caught in a similar spiral. Parliament recently approved a US$2.8 billion restructuring agreement, pushing debt repayments as far as 2043 simply because the interest burden had become unsustainable.

Interest payments alone now consume more national revenue than education and health combined. This is not just a matter of accounting, it is a direct tax on development.

Every cedi spent servicing debt is a cedi lost to schools, roads, hospitals, or industrial transformation. Add to this the depreciation of the cedi, which increases the cost of imports, fuels inflation, and forces the Bank of Ghana to maintain high interest rates to stabilise the currency. The result is a high-interest, low-growth trap that locks the entire economy into stagnation.

The central issue lies in the design of our financial model. Conventional banking is structured around fixed interest. Once a loan is issued, the borrower is bound to repay not just the principal but the interest, regardless of whether the business succeeds or fails.

If revenues drop or costs rise, the bank continues to charge interest on the outstanding balance. The pressure builds, arrears grow, and borrowers eventually collapse under the weight. The system rewards lending volume, not long-term sustainability, and banks are incentivised to roll out short-term credit at high rates, hoping to recover quickly even if the business model is unsound.

There is an alternative, and it is not theoretical. Islamic banking operates on a fundamentally different principle: profit and risk are shared. Under this system, banks finance projects through partnership models where both parties invest capital and share the resulting profits or losses.

In a mushārakah (equity partnership), the bank becomes a co-owner of the business and earns returns based on actual performance. In a murābaḥah (cost-plus financing), goods are purchased and resold with a known profit margin, while ijarah (leasing) agreements allow clients to use assets while paying a rental fee. These are not mere religious arrangements, they are economically sound models tested across the globe.

Evidence from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and parts of Africa shows that Islamic banks tend to have lower non-performing loan ratios and greater resilience during periods of economic stress. This is because the financing is asset-backed, repayment terms are more flexible, and the bank’s income is directly tied to the success of the client’s venture.

The system discourages speculative lending and promotes long-term investment discipline. Risk is not pushed entirely onto the borrower, which means fewer defaults and more sustainable business outcomes.

In Ghana, non-interest banking is permitted, but its potential remains largely untapped. public understanding of Islamic finance remains limited. What Ghana needs is a deliberate shift. A dedicated Islamic Banking regulatory framework would provide legal clarity and investor confidence.

A central Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts (FRACE) in Islamic finance under the Bank of Ghana would ensure that products meet ethical and financial standards. Tax policies must be adjusted to treat Islamic finance on equal footing with conventional instruments. Government could pioneer a sovereign sukuk, an Islamic bond, backed by toll revenues, energy projects, or agricultural infrastructure. This would diversify the national borrowing base, reduce reliance on interest-laden loans, and create an example for the private sector to follow.

Public education is also key. Islamic finance should not be seen as a niche offering for a specific religious group, but as a practical, ethical, and economically sound solution to the challenges facing Ghana’s financial system. Entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers must understand that the model can deliver not just compliance with faith-based principles, but real financial discipline, inclusivity, and resilience.

The Bank of Ghana’s data offers both a warning and a call to action. Writing off hundreds of millions of cedis every few months has become normalised. This cycle will not end until the country rebalances the risk in its financial system and embraces a model that ties credit to real economic activity.

Islamic finance offers a time-tested, globally accepted, and practically viable way to do just that. In a country battling high debt, persistent inflation, exchange rate volatility, and constrained fiscal space, Ghana must look beyond conventional tools. Islamic banking is not a replacement but a complement, one that offers hope for a more stable, inclusive, and sustainable financial future.

By Shaibu Ali (MBA,MSc,CIFE,CIBFP,CSCGP,CIFP,Ph.D), Director General, Islamic Finance Research Institute, Ghana.  President, Islamic Finance Professional Institute

On November 1, 2024, there was a grand event at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, which marked the ceremonial launch of a Ghana’s first shared 4G/5G network under an exclusive 10-year license granted to Next Generation Infrastructure Company (NGIC).

But it was not yet an operational launch, which would have meant the network was actually live for public consumption from that date. As we speak today, it has been six months since the “launch” but there is still no live public 5G network in Ghana yet.

Speaking of live 5G network, the then Minister of Communications and Digitalization, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, under whose tenure the ceremonial launch was done, gave a December 2024 deadline for all three telcos in Ghana – MTN, Telecel and AT Ghana, to rollout live 5G networks for public consumption. In fact, she said the network was ready and so if by December 2024, any telco was not offering 5G, then customers should question that telco. In spite of that bold statement, six months have passed and we still don’t have a live 5G network anywhere in Ghana yet.

Initially, the deadline for the live rollout was extended to January 2025, then to May 2025. Recently, new sector Minister, Sam George made a public announcement that the sole wholesaler for the 4G/5G network in Ghana, NGIC has assured him that 5G will go live in Ghana in June 2025, which is this month. He then stated that he is going to hold them to that deadline, and if they fail there will be consequences, which may include a possible review of the 10-year exclusive licensing terms. The Minister did state that he is not a fan of terminating contracts and licenses, particularly because such actions have financial consequences for the state. But he will not hesitate to review the terms of the license if it becomes necessary.

NGIC itself has not made any public statement as to when the network will go live, but even if we took the Minister’s word for it, the month of June is gone, and we still don’t have live public 5G network anywhere in Ghana. So, what are the operational and regulatory hurdles which have been in the way of 5G going live in Ghana?

Operational issues

Tower rollout

According to Honourable Sam George, NGIC assured him that by June they would have rolled out at least 350 cell sites, comprising of 200-250 sites in Accra and 100-150 sites in Kumasi, out of which at least 50 will be 5G sites, adding that he is looking forward to nothing less than what they promised. But at the last count NGIC had rolled out only up to 22 cell sites mainly in Accra and Kumasi, which is far cry from the promise, and woefully inadequate to ensure a meaningful impact across the country.

But we are reliably informed that all the equipment needed to rollout the 350 cell sites are in country and have been warehoused here, waiting for a number of regulatory approvals to make their rollout worth the while of the stakeholders. Rolling out such equipment and managing them cost a lot of money in the form of monthly fees and utility bills. A typical example of such bad business decision was when Glo first came to Ghana – they rolled out cell sites to cover 90% of the country even though there was no real guarantee of customer presence across the country. In the end they had to decommission a lot of the sites even before the company finally collapsed. So, if regulatory approvals for industry players to connect to the shared platform and use the sites are still pending, it would not make commercial sense to roll them out immediately. What is important is that the equipment are here and ready to be rolled out.

Hesitation from Towercos

Again, NGIC and tower companies (towercos) – mainly ATC and Helios Towers – are yet to finalize on agreements to ensure that the towercos will make their towers available for the rollout of 4G and 5G networks across the country.

Towercos, who are critical to site deployment, remain hesitant to fully commit to NGIC’s rollout, largely due to the historic financial losses in the Ghanaian telecom market. Specifically, significant unpaid obligations from legacy telcos such as AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana—who continue to struggle under the SMP-dominated market structure—have made towercos risk-averse and reluctant to expose themselves to further credit exposure without robust guarantees and reform. It would be recalled that the Minister recently announced that ATC alone presented a bill of GHS1.5 billion, which is the debt owed by AT Ghana alone, not to talk of how much Telecel owes ATC. So, the towercos are apprehensive about entering into another relationship with NGIC, which may lead to more unpaid bills and fees.

However, all of this underscores the importance of NGIC’s neutral-host model as a pathway to reduce financial fragmentation and ensure centralized accountability. The shared model promises to reduce the financial burden on operators and therefore mitigate the incident of operators piling up debt to towercos. It also highlights the need for intentional regulatory support to rebuild investor confidence in Ghana’s telecoms market.

The regulator and the government are not oblivious to these challenges and what policy decisions they can bring to bear on this matter in the common interest of the industry and of Ghana. Instead, it appears that the licensed wholesaler has been left on its own to negotiate that difficult curve and meet deadlines, which cannot also happen without certain specific regulatory interventions.

Delays in NOC inspect Report and Network Certification

For instance, NCA completed technical inspection of the Network Operation Centre (NOC) and backup facilities at NGIC several weeks before they issued an official report and certification to NGIC. This very important report is a prerequisite for full operational clearance. But from our understanding, it took at least eight weeks before that report was delivered to the operator, and that has also impacted the operator’s ability to meet deadlines.

Pending Regulatory Issues

There are very critical aspects of the operational issues that require major regulatory approvals, guidelines and directives for them to happen; and these are known to the regulator and the Minister.

Delays in SIMs and PLMN approval for testing

For example, the National Communications Authority (NCA) has so far granted limited approval for testing purposes—specifically, authorizing 50 SIM cards for the wholesaler to begin network testing. These SIM cards are currently in the provisioning phase. Additionally, the NCA has approved the use of a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), but strictly for testing. The PLMN is a critical component, as it enables the final configuration of the network, system integration, and interoperability testing with partner entities.

It is important to note that these are not the substantive approvals required for full commercial deployment. In fact, there was a significant delay in securing even these initial testing approvals, and that delay has already had a tangible impact on the overall rollout timeline. The core authorizations necessary for full-scale operations are still pending.

Spectrum Interference 

There is persistent interference with the allocated spectrum, which continues to affect network stability and quality. Without a clean and interference-free spectrum, there is no guarantee of reliable service to customers even if the network is launched today. Specifically speaking, there was an interference in the 3.5GHz spectrum from Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) satellite receiver because the operator’s tower is located behind airport shell filling station in Accra. We are aware that just recently, the NCA managed to get GCAA to shift its frequency to 3.9GHz, which is a bit farther away from the NGIC spectrum band. So, now testing is ongoing before NGIC can get the greenlight to move forward with that.

The other challenge is with the 2.1GHz spectrum allocated to the operator. Simply put, there is a “raised noise floor” in that spectrum, which will interfere with any communication signal.

Here is how an expert explained “raised noise floor” in lay man’s language:

Imagine you’re in a very quiet room trying to hear someone whisper from across the room. Even when no one is talking, there’s still some background sound — maybe a humming fridge, outside wind, or distant traffic, which makes it difficult for you to hear the whisper. That constant background sound is the noise floor in a system.

In electronics or communication systems (like radios, microphones, or cell phones), there’s always a tiny amount of unwanted random signal — like static or electronic hiss — even when no real signal is being sent. This is called system noise. If the system noise is higher than the voice signal during a call, it will be hard for you to hear each other’s voices. It’s like trying to hear a whisper during a loud concert.

We are aware that after several months of collaborative testing and diagnosis, the NCA has now localized the issue. The exact source of the noise has still not been identified yet, but further investigations are underway. However, this far the current state of the spectrum allows NGIC to operate within the band without significant interference.

Is it possible that some saboteurs are deliberately causing this interference? Yes! But that cannot be proved yet.

Approval and Guidelines for Telcos and ISPs to Connect

At the recent meeting with CEOs of the telcos, sector Minister Sam George made the following statement:

“The regulator [NCA] has brought to my attention a request for connecting entity licenses so that the likes of AT and Telecel that are pretty constrained spectrum-wise could immediately take advantage of some resources on the NGIC platform. MTN is also welcome if they are interested to take part of those resources.”

That was a clear confirmation that that critical regulatory intervention such as connecting entity approvals for telcos and policy guidelines for internet service providers (ISPs) have not yet been granted.

To date:

• No approvals have been granted to the two telcos (AT and Telecel) who have applied to participate in NGIC’s wholesale network.
• No regulatory framework or policy has been issued to guide ISP participation in delivering retail 4G/5G services over NGIC’s infrastructure.

These omissions mean that NGIC is legally and operationally constrained from commencing the necessary technical configuration and integration processes with participating retail service providers (telcos and ISPs).

We are aware that the regulator is working on it. But the fact as of today is that, that is pending.

Configuration Timeline and Market Readiness

Once the required regulatory approvals and policy frameworks are in place, our understanding is that NGIC will require a minimum of 6–8 weeks to conduct technical configuration, integration and Mobility/FWA testing. Only then can commercial wholesale services be launched to participating telcos and ISPs. Until we get to that point, the infrastructure—despite being warehoused and ready—is effectively idle, which delays Ghana’s ability to benefit from the advantages of shared 4G/5G infrastructure.

Deadline vs KPIs

So, it brings us back to the Ministers June deadline statement and subtle threat to review the license if the deadline is not met. Moreover, per the key performance indicators for NGIC, they have at least a 3-year initial period to meet specific targets before their work can be subjected to regulatory scrutiny. It is very important that the three-year period is honoured, particularly in the face of all the hurdles and deliberate attempts by some industry players to make the whole arrangement fail.

So, in our humble opinion, what the sector minister should be doing in the interest of Ghanaians is to ensure that the regulator is playing its role timeously to clear the regulatory hurdles and make way for Ghanaians to start experiencing 5G soon. Setting deadlines are important to ensure that operators are held accountable to their commitments. But the deadlines should first be set on the regulator to fulfil its part of the deal, then we can confidently hold the operator to deadlines. Anything short of that would not do much if the regulatory hurdles still persist. We are fully confident in the Minister and the regulator that they will deal with these issues in the interest of the public. In fact, we are aware that work is being done to address these challenges.

Looking Ahead to Strategic Benefits of the Shared Platform Model

For the Regulator and Government

• Reduces the burden of infrastructure redundancy and enables policy-driven digital inclusion.
• Helps address the market dominance of the significant market power (SMP) through open-access mechanisms.
• Creates a transparent licensing and compliance regime across Telcos and ISPs.

For Telcos and ISPs

• Access to a national network without the cost of individual infrastructure deployment.
• Improved service quality and coverage while enabling cost-efficient market entry and growth.
• Offers a fairer, level playing field to compete with the SMP incumbent.

For Towercos and Investors

• A consolidated and accountable wholesale operator (NGIC) reduces credit risk.
• Provides clarity, scale, and stability to support long-term investment.
• Rebuilds trust in the telecom value chain by breaking the legacy of non-payment and instability, particularly for the towercos.

For Consumers

• Accelerates access to high-speed 4G and next-generation 5G services at lower costs.
• Improves service coverage, reliability, and performance—especially in underserved areas.
• Expands consumer choice by supporting a more competitive service provider ecosystem.

Conclusion and Call to Action

To fully unlock the transformational potential of the NGIC model, regulatory and policy action must now match the ambition of the infrastructure investment already made. Ghana stands at a strategic crossroads; by enabling NGIC’s open-access model, it can dismantle monopolistic bottlenecks, revitalize investor and towerco confidence, and position itself as a digital infrastructure leader in West Africa.

Delays, if prolonged, risk not just NGIC’s rollout, but Ghana’s broader goals of digital transformation, economic competitiveness, and inclusive growth.

The author, Samuel Dowuona is a multiple awarding-winning journalist and telecoms industry analyst. He can be contacted via personal email address – [email protected]

The government has announced that the implementation of the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1141), will officially commence on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

This follows a prior postponement by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) aimed at monitoring global market conditions and preserving recent gains in domestic fuel prices.

The decision was made in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Energy, following a comprehensive review of current market indicators.

Authorities said that the timing aligns with the government’s broader efforts to maintain economic stability while addressing the financial needs of the energy sector.

The amended law, first detailed in Tax Information Circular (TIO) No. 2025/004, introduces revised rates for the Energy Sector Shortfall and Debt Repayment Levy (ESSDRL) across several petroleum products.

These changes are expected to help close funding gaps and support the repayment of legacy debts in the energy sector.

Revised ESSDRL Rates under Act 1141:

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) in its statement,  encouraged stakeholders in the petroleum downstream sector to take note of the new rates and make the necessary adjustments to their pricing structures ahead of the effective date.

The Energy Sector Levies were originally introduced to address persistent financial shortfalls in the energy sector. This latest amendment is expected to generate additional revenue to help settle outstanding debts and support critical energy infrastructure.

Officials say they will continue to monitor the impact of the revised levies and maintain engagement with industry players to ensure smooth implementation.

Postponed energy Levy must trigger comprehensive revenue review – Oppong Nkrumah urges gov’t